Sanchez scores in Giants’ loss

GLENDALE — Although it had to wait until his second career postseason game, San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez achieved a couple of big postseason firsts on Friday night.

The former Glendale Community College player notched his first playoff hit and scored his first run during Game Two of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park when he singled on a softly-hit ball to shallow left field in the first inning and crossed the plate later in the frame after Pat Burrell connected on a three-run home run.

Burrell’s blast wouldn’t be enough to lift the Giants to a win, however, as the Atlanta Braves rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game and won it, 5-4, on an 11th-inning solo home run by Rick Ankiel.

The series is squared up at a game apiece as it heads back to Atlanta for a third game at 1:37 PDT Sunday.

Batting second and starting at second base for the second straight game in the series, Sanchez also recorded his first postseason hit by pitch when he was plunked in the right hand by Braves reliever Kyle Farnsworth during a pivotal at bat in the bottom of the tenth inning with the winning run at second base and one out.

Sanchez, who went one for four with two strikeouts and two runners left on base, stayed in the game and San Francisco would go on to load the bases with one out, but Buster Posey grounded into an inning-ending double play to squelch the rally.

Sanchez is batting .125 (one for eight) in the playoffs.