McCarroll21
04-22-2007, 11:54 PM
Johnson's Blasts Lead Braves To Series Win
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Kelly Johnson is making the adjustment to leading off pretty well. In the last week he has raised his average from .150 to .297, and has shown a knack for coming through in the clutch. Sunday, he hit the second lead off home run of his career, and that was only the beginning.
A day that was supposed to belong to John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, turned out with Kelly Johnson stealing the spotlight. Johnson reached base four times in five plate appearances, starting with a home run on the first pitch of the game, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.
He collected his second hit in the third inning with a single into center field. He advanced as far as third base, but was stranded there when Chipper Jones struck out to end the inning.
The Mets got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when Shawn Green hit a home run off John Smoltz, tying the game at one run apiece. The Braves came right back, however, and took back the lead in their next at bat.
Andruw Jones started the rally with a single into left field. Brian McCann followed him with a double, bringing Jeff Francoeur up with runners on second and third. Francoeur answered the bell with an opposite field single that drove home both runners. The RBIs were the thirteenth and fourteenth runs Francoeur has driven in with two outs in 2007.
The Mets weren’t intimidated by the 3-1 Braves lead though. They continued what they started in the fifth inning on their way to scoring five runs in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. Carlos Delgado started the inning with a single. Following a single from Moises Alou and a walk to Shawn Green, Jose Valentin singled to drive home Delgado. Julio Franco followed with the second out of the inning when he flied out to shallow right field. Jose Reyes followed the out from Franco with a bases clearing triple, and scored on the next play as Paul Lo Duca singled into left field.
After the sixth inning, the Mets were ahead 6-3 and both of the future Hall of Famers were out of the game. The Braves started the seventh inning with two quick outs before returning the favor on the Mets.
Scott Thorman, pinch hitting for the pitcher, doubled into left field in front of a walk by Johnson. Edgar Renteria stepped up to play hero for a brief moment when he hit a home run to the opposite field to tie the game.
Tyler Yates came on in attempt to return the game to normalcy in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yates sat down the Mets in order for the first scoreless frame since the top of the fifth inning.
The eighth inning saw another hero shine through as the Braves took the lead for good. Francoeur reached on an error to start the inning, but was erased off the base paths when Matt Diaz tried to bunt him to second base. With Diaz on first, Craig Wilson was hit by a pitch before Ryan Langerhans struck out for the second out of the inning. Coming up for the second time in as many innings, Johnson worked himself into a 2-0 count before turning a fastball right down the middle into a three run homer for a 9-6 Braves lead.
Rafael Soriano and Bob Wickman came in to pitch scoreless eighth and ninth innings to preserve the Braves victory, and the series win over the Mets.
The Braves had a bit of a scare in the top of the ninth as Brian McCann was hit by a pitch on his catching hand when attempting to bunt Chipper and Andruw Jones into scoring position. He stayed in the game, eventually getting the bunt down, and catching the final inning before taking X-Rays on his hand. McCann should avoid a trip to the disabled list however, as the X-Rays came back negative.
The Braves re-gained a narrow advantage over the Mets for first place in the National League East with the win. The Braves have a 4-2 record against the Mets in the early going of 2007.
The Braves will now go to Florida to play a three game series against the Marlins. The series will get underway Monday at 7:10 PM as Kyle Davies takes on Dontrelle Willis. The game will be aired on SportSouth.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Kelly Johnson is making the adjustment to leading off pretty well. In the last week he has raised his average from .150 to .297, and has shown a knack for coming through in the clutch. Sunday, he hit the second lead off home run of his career, and that was only the beginning.
A day that was supposed to belong to John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, turned out with Kelly Johnson stealing the spotlight. Johnson reached base four times in five plate appearances, starting with a home run on the first pitch of the game, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.
He collected his second hit in the third inning with a single into center field. He advanced as far as third base, but was stranded there when Chipper Jones struck out to end the inning.
The Mets got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when Shawn Green hit a home run off John Smoltz, tying the game at one run apiece. The Braves came right back, however, and took back the lead in their next at bat.
Andruw Jones started the rally with a single into left field. Brian McCann followed him with a double, bringing Jeff Francoeur up with runners on second and third. Francoeur answered the bell with an opposite field single that drove home both runners. The RBIs were the thirteenth and fourteenth runs Francoeur has driven in with two outs in 2007.
The Mets weren’t intimidated by the 3-1 Braves lead though. They continued what they started in the fifth inning on their way to scoring five runs in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. Carlos Delgado started the inning with a single. Following a single from Moises Alou and a walk to Shawn Green, Jose Valentin singled to drive home Delgado. Julio Franco followed with the second out of the inning when he flied out to shallow right field. Jose Reyes followed the out from Franco with a bases clearing triple, and scored on the next play as Paul Lo Duca singled into left field.
After the sixth inning, the Mets were ahead 6-3 and both of the future Hall of Famers were out of the game. The Braves started the seventh inning with two quick outs before returning the favor on the Mets.
Scott Thorman, pinch hitting for the pitcher, doubled into left field in front of a walk by Johnson. Edgar Renteria stepped up to play hero for a brief moment when he hit a home run to the opposite field to tie the game.
Tyler Yates came on in attempt to return the game to normalcy in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yates sat down the Mets in order for the first scoreless frame since the top of the fifth inning.
The eighth inning saw another hero shine through as the Braves took the lead for good. Francoeur reached on an error to start the inning, but was erased off the base paths when Matt Diaz tried to bunt him to second base. With Diaz on first, Craig Wilson was hit by a pitch before Ryan Langerhans struck out for the second out of the inning. Coming up for the second time in as many innings, Johnson worked himself into a 2-0 count before turning a fastball right down the middle into a three run homer for a 9-6 Braves lead.
Rafael Soriano and Bob Wickman came in to pitch scoreless eighth and ninth innings to preserve the Braves victory, and the series win over the Mets.
The Braves had a bit of a scare in the top of the ninth as Brian McCann was hit by a pitch on his catching hand when attempting to bunt Chipper and Andruw Jones into scoring position. He stayed in the game, eventually getting the bunt down, and catching the final inning before taking X-Rays on his hand. McCann should avoid a trip to the disabled list however, as the X-Rays came back negative.
The Braves re-gained a narrow advantage over the Mets for first place in the National League East with the win. The Braves have a 4-2 record against the Mets in the early going of 2007.
The Braves will now go to Florida to play a three game series against the Marlins. The series will get underway Monday at 7:10 PM as Kyle Davies takes on Dontrelle Willis. The game will be aired on SportSouth.