McCarroll21
04-19-2007, 03:46 AM
Braves Rally Late, Win Opener
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Timely hitting, good defense and good pitching when needed the most fueled a late inning rally for the Braves. After being ahead 4-1 after the first inning, the Braves saw their lead evaporate and trailing by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Kelly Johnson took matters into his own hands and gave the Braves a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Cubs started the scoring in the first inning when former Brave Mark DeRosa lined a home run into the left field seats to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
After that, it was the Braves turn in the first inning. With Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones already on base, Brian McCann lined a two out single into left center field to score the Braves first run of the night. Jeff Francoeur followed McCann with a three run home run to give the Braves a 4-1 lead.
The Cubs cut the lead in half in the third inning when DeRosa drove in Felix Pie with a ground out to second base. Pie was on third base after tripling into the right field corner. The Braves got the run back, however, when Scott Thorman hit his second home run of the season to straight away center field, making the score 5-2.
The Cubs then scored four unanswered runs to take the lead by the middle of the seventh inning. In the sixth, Derrek Lee lined a double over Andruw Jones head in center. Aramis Ramirez drove him in on the next play with a double of his own. Cliff Lee followed Ramirez with a single to move him to third base. Ramirez then scored on a sacrifice fly from the Cubs catcher, Michael Barrett.
Derrek Lee was in the middle of the inning again in the seventh as the Cubs scored another pair of runs. Felix Pie started the rally by drawing a walk off Oscar Villarreal. Lee drove Pie after hitting another double. Lee advanced to third base when the throw home got away from McCann. With Ramirez at the plate, a wild pitch from Villarreal scored Lee to give the Braves a 6-5 lead.
The Braves started their half of the seventh inning with two outs from McCann and Francoeur. Scott Thorman then started the Braves rally by coaxing a walk. Matt Diaz followed Thorman by legging out an infield single to keep the inning alive for pinch hitter Chris Woodward. After fouling off a few tough pitches, Woodward walked to load the bases with two outs for Kelly Johnson. Johnson gave the Braves back the lead when he lined a sharp single into right field, scoring Thorman and Diaz. Woodward would score a batter later as Renteria singled back up the middle to give the Braves an 8-6 lead.
With relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez unavailable to the Braves, they were forced to turn to Steve Colyer to start the eighth inning. Colyer started the inning by walking Matt Murton, then allowing a single to Michael Barrett to place runners at first and third. Colyer then got Jacque Jones to ground out to Chipper Jones for his only out of the game. Peter Moylan was then called on to get the Braves out of trouble. Moylan started his appearance by walking Daryle Ward to load the bases before getting Ryan Theriot to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Bob Wickman came in to pitch the ninth inning, picking up his fifth save of the season and sending the Braves on to a 10-4 record.
All eight of the Braves runs were scored with two outs in the inning. Soriano was unavailable because he was used to pitch an inning and two-thirds the night before in Washington. Gonzalez is set to undergo an MRI on his left elbow on Thursday. The Braves also suspended middle infielder Willy Aybar without pay for an indefinite amount of time on Thursday. Aybar is already on the disable list, but his failures to show up at the ball park may have forced the Braves hand. His future in the organization does not appear to be going in the right direction.
The Braves and Cubs will play again Thursday night in Atlanta. Left handers Rich Hill and Mark Redman will take the mounds for their respective teams. The game will start at 7:35 and can be seen on TBS.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Timely hitting, good defense and good pitching when needed the most fueled a late inning rally for the Braves. After being ahead 4-1 after the first inning, the Braves saw their lead evaporate and trailing by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Kelly Johnson took matters into his own hands and gave the Braves a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Cubs started the scoring in the first inning when former Brave Mark DeRosa lined a home run into the left field seats to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
After that, it was the Braves turn in the first inning. With Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones already on base, Brian McCann lined a two out single into left center field to score the Braves first run of the night. Jeff Francoeur followed McCann with a three run home run to give the Braves a 4-1 lead.
The Cubs cut the lead in half in the third inning when DeRosa drove in Felix Pie with a ground out to second base. Pie was on third base after tripling into the right field corner. The Braves got the run back, however, when Scott Thorman hit his second home run of the season to straight away center field, making the score 5-2.
The Cubs then scored four unanswered runs to take the lead by the middle of the seventh inning. In the sixth, Derrek Lee lined a double over Andruw Jones head in center. Aramis Ramirez drove him in on the next play with a double of his own. Cliff Lee followed Ramirez with a single to move him to third base. Ramirez then scored on a sacrifice fly from the Cubs catcher, Michael Barrett.
Derrek Lee was in the middle of the inning again in the seventh as the Cubs scored another pair of runs. Felix Pie started the rally by drawing a walk off Oscar Villarreal. Lee drove Pie after hitting another double. Lee advanced to third base when the throw home got away from McCann. With Ramirez at the plate, a wild pitch from Villarreal scored Lee to give the Braves a 6-5 lead.
The Braves started their half of the seventh inning with two outs from McCann and Francoeur. Scott Thorman then started the Braves rally by coaxing a walk. Matt Diaz followed Thorman by legging out an infield single to keep the inning alive for pinch hitter Chris Woodward. After fouling off a few tough pitches, Woodward walked to load the bases with two outs for Kelly Johnson. Johnson gave the Braves back the lead when he lined a sharp single into right field, scoring Thorman and Diaz. Woodward would score a batter later as Renteria singled back up the middle to give the Braves an 8-6 lead.
With relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez unavailable to the Braves, they were forced to turn to Steve Colyer to start the eighth inning. Colyer started the inning by walking Matt Murton, then allowing a single to Michael Barrett to place runners at first and third. Colyer then got Jacque Jones to ground out to Chipper Jones for his only out of the game. Peter Moylan was then called on to get the Braves out of trouble. Moylan started his appearance by walking Daryle Ward to load the bases before getting Ryan Theriot to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Bob Wickman came in to pitch the ninth inning, picking up his fifth save of the season and sending the Braves on to a 10-4 record.
All eight of the Braves runs were scored with two outs in the inning. Soriano was unavailable because he was used to pitch an inning and two-thirds the night before in Washington. Gonzalez is set to undergo an MRI on his left elbow on Thursday. The Braves also suspended middle infielder Willy Aybar without pay for an indefinite amount of time on Thursday. Aybar is already on the disable list, but his failures to show up at the ball park may have forced the Braves hand. His future in the organization does not appear to be going in the right direction.
The Braves and Cubs will play again Thursday night in Atlanta. Left handers Rich Hill and Mark Redman will take the mounds for their respective teams. The game will start at 7:35 and can be seen on TBS.