Braves score 4 in 9th to stun Giants 7-5

SAN FRANCISCO - On the brink of their best month in 61 years, the defending world champion San Francisco Giants let one slip away.

“It was a good month and the guys played great,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said after watching the Atlanta Braves score four runs in the ninth inning to win 7-5 Sunday. “This was a tough one and we need to bounce back now.”

Joe Panik hit a two-run homer in the seventh and doubled in the ninth, though it was not enough for the Giants to avoid a two-game skid to end May.

They still managed to win 21 of their 30 games in the month, washing away the effects of an eight-game losing streak in April, in which when they fell six games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

“You look at April and we had our ups and downs and got off to a tough start,” Bochy said. “We’ll put this one behind and hopefully carry the momentum of the month into June.”

Santiago Casilla (4-1) blew his third save of the year. He gave up Freddie Freeman’s one-out home run and then walked Andrelton Simmons ahead of a fielding error by Brandon Crawford. Pinch hitter A.J. Pierzynski blooped a single into right, loading the bases for Jace Peterson, who tripled into the right center field gap.

“I was trying to get two before I caught the ball,” Crawford said. “It wasn’t hit (hard) and I came in to get it, maybe too hard. It’s disappointing with the way we came back. To have end like that, it’s disappointing.”

Crawford and Brandon Belt both hit home runs for the Giants and Gregor Blanco singled home a run ahead of Panik’s blast.

Madison Bumgarner, who retired the first 12 batters, turned in a quality start but did not figure in the decision.

He allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings and was pulled after giving up a two-run homer to Juan Uribe and singles to Chris Johnson, who had two hits and drove in a run, and Simmons.

Uribe hit his second homer in as many days.

“I made too many mistakes,” Bumgarner said. “You might be able to get away with one here or there but you can’t expect to make mistakes and not have the hitters make you pay.”

George Kontos got the final two outs of the seventh and Hunter Strickland pitched a scoreless eighth.

Nick Masset (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the win. Jason Grilli got the final three outs for his 15th save in 16 chances.

“A lot of stuff can happen,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “There was a double play ball, game over. But it takes a bad hop and Crawford can’t come up with it and all of a sudden we have more life.”

Braves starter Julio Teheran allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out one.

ISHIKAWA TO SACRAMENTO

Travis Ishikawa cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Sacramento. Ishikawa, whose three-run homer in the NLCS sent the Giants to the World Series, opened the year on the disabled list with a back injury. “I thought there was a good chance we would lose him,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “But the fact that he is going to stay is nice to know.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: RHP Jake Peavy’s rehab assignment remains on hold after he experienced some back discomfort in his previous start. . RHP Matt Cain (flexor tendon strain) continues his throwing program.

UP NEXT

Ryan Vogelsong (4-2, 4.24) takes the mound when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit on Monday night. He’s 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA against his former team.