Conrad's misery continues;Three errors lead to two unearned runs; late lead vanishes in anguish.

For Brooks Conrad, this has been a season of the highest highs and lowest lows.

As familiar as the "dirt dog" became for throwing his hands to his helmet in confusion, and not seeing his walk-off grand slam against the Reds clear the fence, lately it's just been the hands-to-the-head part. As if that can some way soften the blow to the glut of eight errors in his past seven games, growing more excruciating by the day.

Conrad committed three errors in Sunday's Game 3 loss to the Giants, the first Braves player to do that in a postseason game.

No player had done it in a postseason game since former Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal committed three errors for the Dodgers against the Phillies in Game 5 of the 2008 NLCS.

"It's totally embarrassing," Conrad said. "Once again, I felt like I let everybody down. It's a whole lot to swallow but I'll try to do my best to get over it. But it's something you're probably not for a long time, if ever."

Conrad had as big a hand in a loss as a fielder can, and his were unforgiving.

The ball wouldn't stop finding him, for errors in the first, second and finally the ninth inning, allowing the game-winning run to score in a 3-2 loss. Buster Posey's ground ball bounced right to him in the ninth inning and went through his legs, never touching his glove.

Conrad was caught by TV cameras mouthing an expletive on the field.

He was still struggling to explain everything afterward.

"Just coming right at me, one-hopper, tracked it the whole way, just trying to keep it in front at least," Conrad said. "It just seemed to go right through me. It was a weird feeling."

The ball had been doing that all night --- the double-play ball he dropped in the first inning, while thinking about flipping it to second base, and the pop-up that allowed a run to score on a ball he went to catch with two hands, but watched kick out of the bottom of his glove.

Tim Hudson pitched around Conrad's first mistake, though it cost him an extra 15 pitches in the inning. But he couldn't do anything about the second since it came with a runner at third base who scored easily. The Braves allowed three runs Sunday; two were unearned because of Conrad errors.

When manager Bobby Cox came for the ball from reliever Peter Moylan after the error in the ninth, Conrad didn't come to the mound with the rest of the infielders. He stayed on the edge of the infield grass, looking for some dirt to kick, until first baseman Derrek Lee finally came over.

"I was just trying to be there for him," Lee said. "We've all been there. Sometimes it seems that nothing good is going to happen to you. You feel like you're on an island all by yourself. I didn't want him to feel like that."

Heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the video board at Turner Field showed highlights of Conrad's grand slam off the Reds while trying to encourage the crowd. Instead, it drew boos.

Shortly thereafter, the game ended in the bottom of the ninth on a Nate McLouth groundout to Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez. It looked so simple.

Cox has to decide now whether he'll sit Conrad in Game 4 tonight. With injuries to both Chipper Jones and Martin Prado, he's down to only Diory Hernandez as a backup middle infielder. Eric Hinske and Troy Glaus have played four innings combined at third base all season, leaving Cox without many options.

"I'll have to sleep on it," Cox said after the game.

Cox had already moved Conrad from third base to second for the last weekend of the season against Philadelphia, trying to make him feel more comfortable. Conrad had throwing errors on back-to-back days against the Phillies to ignite game-deciding rallies.

Conrad had made three errors in three games at third base. Now he has five in his past four games at second base.

"Just got to keep his head up," Hudson said.

Game 4 vs Giants

Probable starters: RH Derek Lowe (16-12, 4.00) vs. LH Madison Bumgarner (7-6, 3.00)

Today's matchup:

*Lowe lost to Tim Lincecum 1-0 in Game 1 in San Francisco, while allowing only one run in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits, including a run-scoring single Omar Infante should have at least knocked down at third. Lowe makes his second start in his last three on three days' rest. He held the Marlins to one run in 5 2/3 innings in a 5-1 win Sept. 29 on three days' rest. The last time he pitched in the postseason on three days' rest was Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS with LA. He gave up two earned runs in five innings in a no-decision in a 7-5 loss to the Phillies. He went 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two regular season starts against the Giants.

*After winning Game 3 Sunday night, Giants manager Bruce Bochy elected to go with the rookie left-hander in Game 4 rather than Lincecum on three days' rest. The Braves have never faced Bumgarner, which is a scary proposition for a team that struggles against unfamiliar pitchers. Bumgarner is making his postseason debut on 10 days' rest. He was sharp to finish the season though, allowing only one earned run in 12 innings while winning his last two starts against the Diamondbacks and Cubs. He walked two and struck out 16 in those games. He's 6-3 with a 1.91 ERA in 10 games on the road this season.