McCarroll21
04-28-2007, 01:57 PM
Braves Survive Scare From Rockies In Opener
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
On Friday night, the Braves had enough hits that they could score eleven runs, while also leaving nine runners on base.
Edgar Renteria collected four hits to lead a barrage of seventeen Braves’ hits en route to a 9-7 win.
The Braves stranded seven runners through the first three innings before breaking through with two out in the fourth inning. Matt Diaz started the fourth inning with a shallow single into left field. After a strikeout from Craig Wilson, pitcher Chuck James sacrificed Diaz to second base. Kelly Johnson drove Diaz home with a single, before scoring on Renteria’s third hit of the game.
The Rockies got one of the runs back in their half of the fourth inning via a Troy Tulowitzi homer before the Braves came right back with four more runs in the sixth inning.
Craig Wilson led off the inning with a homer to put the Braves up 3-1. With one out, Johnson reached base on a walk and moved to third on a double from Chipper Jones. With first base open, and already having received an intentional walk in the game, the Rockies elected to pitch to Andruw Jones and paid for it mightily. Jones lined the first pitch he saw into the left field seats to give the Braves a 6-1 lead.
Once again, the Rockies came right back with runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Willy Taveras started the inning with a single and stole second base. After a single from Garrett Atkins set Todd Helton up with a first and third situation, he singled to score Taveras and move Atkins to third. Matt Holliday followed Helton with a single of his own to score Atkins and Yorvit Torrealba followed with another single to chase home Helton.
Chuck James was lifted in favor of Tyler Yates following the single from Todd Helton. James was cruising through five innings before he apparently tweaked his back. The injury could have possibly occurred when he ran hard down the first base line on a ground out in the top of the sixth inning. James finished the night giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
With their lead being cut down by three runs, the Braves got them back in the seventh inning with more two out scoring. Craig Wilson reached base with one out before Scott Thorman flied out for the second out in the inning. Johnson drew his second walk of the night to keep the inning alive for Renteria, who answered with his fourth hit and driving home Wilson. Chipper Jones followed with a double down the right field line to clear the bases and give the Braves a 9-4 lead.
Closer Bob Wickman entered the game with the five run lead and suffered through the normal outing from a closer in a non-save situation. Wickman allowed three runs on two hits and two walks, only recording two outs. After the score was cut to 9-7 on a Garrett Atkins double, the Braves turned to Steve Colyer to face Todd Helton. Colyer walked Helton to bring Matt Holliday to the plate as the possible winning run. Peter Moylan was brought in to face Holliday and got the last out of the game on a deep fly out into the right field corner.
The save was the first of Moylan’s career.
The Braves will play the Rockies again on Saturday at 8:05. John Smoltz will square off against Jason Hirsh of the Rockies.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
On Friday night, the Braves had enough hits that they could score eleven runs, while also leaving nine runners on base.
Edgar Renteria collected four hits to lead a barrage of seventeen Braves’ hits en route to a 9-7 win.
The Braves stranded seven runners through the first three innings before breaking through with two out in the fourth inning. Matt Diaz started the fourth inning with a shallow single into left field. After a strikeout from Craig Wilson, pitcher Chuck James sacrificed Diaz to second base. Kelly Johnson drove Diaz home with a single, before scoring on Renteria’s third hit of the game.
The Rockies got one of the runs back in their half of the fourth inning via a Troy Tulowitzi homer before the Braves came right back with four more runs in the sixth inning.
Craig Wilson led off the inning with a homer to put the Braves up 3-1. With one out, Johnson reached base on a walk and moved to third on a double from Chipper Jones. With first base open, and already having received an intentional walk in the game, the Rockies elected to pitch to Andruw Jones and paid for it mightily. Jones lined the first pitch he saw into the left field seats to give the Braves a 6-1 lead.
Once again, the Rockies came right back with runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Willy Taveras started the inning with a single and stole second base. After a single from Garrett Atkins set Todd Helton up with a first and third situation, he singled to score Taveras and move Atkins to third. Matt Holliday followed Helton with a single of his own to score Atkins and Yorvit Torrealba followed with another single to chase home Helton.
Chuck James was lifted in favor of Tyler Yates following the single from Todd Helton. James was cruising through five innings before he apparently tweaked his back. The injury could have possibly occurred when he ran hard down the first base line on a ground out in the top of the sixth inning. James finished the night giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
With their lead being cut down by three runs, the Braves got them back in the seventh inning with more two out scoring. Craig Wilson reached base with one out before Scott Thorman flied out for the second out in the inning. Johnson drew his second walk of the night to keep the inning alive for Renteria, who answered with his fourth hit and driving home Wilson. Chipper Jones followed with a double down the right field line to clear the bases and give the Braves a 9-4 lead.
Closer Bob Wickman entered the game with the five run lead and suffered through the normal outing from a closer in a non-save situation. Wickman allowed three runs on two hits and two walks, only recording two outs. After the score was cut to 9-7 on a Garrett Atkins double, the Braves turned to Steve Colyer to face Todd Helton. Colyer walked Helton to bring Matt Holliday to the plate as the possible winning run. Peter Moylan was brought in to face Holliday and got the last out of the game on a deep fly out into the right field corner.
The save was the first of Moylan’s career.
The Braves will play the Rockies again on Saturday at 8:05. John Smoltz will square off against Jason Hirsh of the Rockies.