McCarroll21
05-10-2007, 03:00 AM
Smoltz, Joneses Carry Braves To Victory
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The ballpark had a certain aura around it. The game meant a little more than just a game. It was a battle of two Hall of Famers, two Braves legends. John Smoltz vs. Greg Maddux. It doesn’t get much better.
The game went much the same way of the game that was hosted in Atlanta just a night prior. The Braves got down early, came back to win late. That seems to be the recipe for success for this year’s Braves team.
The Padres got on the board early in the game again via the long ball. Geoff Blum hit a two out solo homerun in the second inning for the first run of the game. The Padres added their second run of the night on a solo homerun from Adrian Gonzalez.
Just like the night before, the Braves found themselves trailing 2-0 as a result of two homeruns. Only this time, they were facing a Hall of Famer, not a rookie.
The Braves scored a run in the fifth inning to cut the lead in half. Chris Woodward led off the inning with a single into center field. Smoltz followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt to move Woodward to second. He then moved to third on a wild pitch. After Kelly Johnson struck out for the second out of the inning, Willie Harris dropped a single into right field to chase home Woodward.
The Braves kept the pressure on Maddux in the sixth inning. Andruw Jones started the inning with an infield single off the glove of Maddux. He stole second and moved to third on a Brian McCann ground out. With Jones at third and Francoeur coming up, the Padres went to the bullpen as Greg Maddux left the field to a standing ovation from the Turner Field crowd. Cla Meredith came on and recorded two groundouts, leaving Jones stranded at third base.
The Braves took the lead in the seventh inning off Meredith, however. With two out in the inning, Kelly Johnson singled to right field. Harris followed him with a single of his own to place runners at first and second. Chipper Jones hit a ground rule double to the right center field gap to score Johnson and tie the game. Had the ball not bounced over the fence, Harris would have easily scored the go ahead run, but it eventually did not matter as Andruw Jones followed Chipper with a single into right field to score Harris to put the Braves on top at 3-2.
Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano were then summoned in from the bullpen to finish the game. Gonzalez got the eighth and Soriano the ninth. The two combined on two perfect innings and three strikeouts to seal the victory.
Smoltz finished the game with seven innings pitched, giving up seven hits and didn’t walk a batter. He allowed two runs on the solo home runs to Blum and Gonzalez and struck out seven batters.
Jeff Francoeur recorded two outfield assists in the game, giving him three on the season. He was credited with an assist in the first inning when Brian Giles was tagged out at second on a relay throw from Chipper Jones. Francoeur was trying to throw out Marcus Giles at third, but Chipper shortened the throw and got Brian Giles as he tried to take second base. His other assist came in the fourth inning when Geoff Blum tried to stretch a double into a triple without success.
The win gives Smoltz three consecutive victories and five on the season, now tied among the top of the National League.
The win guarantees the Braves of at least a split in the four game series. The Braves will go for the series win on Thursday behind Tim Hudson. Hudson will face off against David Wells at 1:05.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The ballpark had a certain aura around it. The game meant a little more than just a game. It was a battle of two Hall of Famers, two Braves legends. John Smoltz vs. Greg Maddux. It doesn’t get much better.
The game went much the same way of the game that was hosted in Atlanta just a night prior. The Braves got down early, came back to win late. That seems to be the recipe for success for this year’s Braves team.
The Padres got on the board early in the game again via the long ball. Geoff Blum hit a two out solo homerun in the second inning for the first run of the game. The Padres added their second run of the night on a solo homerun from Adrian Gonzalez.
Just like the night before, the Braves found themselves trailing 2-0 as a result of two homeruns. Only this time, they were facing a Hall of Famer, not a rookie.
The Braves scored a run in the fifth inning to cut the lead in half. Chris Woodward led off the inning with a single into center field. Smoltz followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt to move Woodward to second. He then moved to third on a wild pitch. After Kelly Johnson struck out for the second out of the inning, Willie Harris dropped a single into right field to chase home Woodward.
The Braves kept the pressure on Maddux in the sixth inning. Andruw Jones started the inning with an infield single off the glove of Maddux. He stole second and moved to third on a Brian McCann ground out. With Jones at third and Francoeur coming up, the Padres went to the bullpen as Greg Maddux left the field to a standing ovation from the Turner Field crowd. Cla Meredith came on and recorded two groundouts, leaving Jones stranded at third base.
The Braves took the lead in the seventh inning off Meredith, however. With two out in the inning, Kelly Johnson singled to right field. Harris followed him with a single of his own to place runners at first and second. Chipper Jones hit a ground rule double to the right center field gap to score Johnson and tie the game. Had the ball not bounced over the fence, Harris would have easily scored the go ahead run, but it eventually did not matter as Andruw Jones followed Chipper with a single into right field to score Harris to put the Braves on top at 3-2.
Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano were then summoned in from the bullpen to finish the game. Gonzalez got the eighth and Soriano the ninth. The two combined on two perfect innings and three strikeouts to seal the victory.
Smoltz finished the game with seven innings pitched, giving up seven hits and didn’t walk a batter. He allowed two runs on the solo home runs to Blum and Gonzalez and struck out seven batters.
Jeff Francoeur recorded two outfield assists in the game, giving him three on the season. He was credited with an assist in the first inning when Brian Giles was tagged out at second on a relay throw from Chipper Jones. Francoeur was trying to throw out Marcus Giles at third, but Chipper shortened the throw and got Brian Giles as he tried to take second base. His other assist came in the fourth inning when Geoff Blum tried to stretch a double into a triple without success.
The win gives Smoltz three consecutive victories and five on the season, now tied among the top of the National League.
The win guarantees the Braves of at least a split in the four game series. The Braves will go for the series win on Thursday behind Tim Hudson. Hudson will face off against David Wells at 1:05.