McCarroll21
06-03-2007, 01:28 PM
Braves Win Behind Escobar's Strong Debut
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Yunel Escobar was called up to take the place of Chipper Jones on the roster before the game on Saturday. He responded by acting like he’s been in the major leagues for years. Escobar was seemingly in the middle of everything that happened Saturday.
Having made the game seem easy, it turned out that the hardest part of his debut was actually arriving to the ballpark. He didn’t arrive at Wrigley Field until just an hour before first pitch. He had to stay overnight in Ft. Wayne, Indiana after his flight to Chicago was diverted there due to heavy rains.
When he got to the park, he was in the lineup and batting second. In his first at bat, he picked up a bloop hit over the second baseman’s head and his day got only better from there.
After Martin Prado drew a leadoff walk to begin the fourth inning, Escobar was called on to sacrifice him to second base. Escboar got the bunt down, but was credited with a fielder’s choice after Rich Hill attempted to get Prado at second. All runners were safe on the play, and the Braves took advantage of the mistake.
Edgar Renteria followed the error with a double to left field. Prado would come around to score with Escobar stopping at third. Escobar would later on a ground out by Andruw Jones, and Matt Diaz doubled in Renteria later in the inning.
Chuck James worked himself in and out of jams for most of the afternoon but was able to leave the game with a lead after the sixth inning. James allowed two runs on six hits and four walks, but lost his bid for a win when Tyler Yates allowed an unearned run to score in the seventh inning.
Ryan Theriot reached base on a one-out single. He moved to second due to an errant pickoff throw from Yates and scored on an error by Prado at second base.
The Braves came right back to take the lead in the eighth inning, however. Scott Thorman led off the inning with a walk. Thorman was moved to second base with a sacrifice bunt by Chris Woodward. After Prado popped out for the second out of the inning, Escobar doubled into left field to drive in Thorman, giving the Braves a 4-3 lead.
Escobar found himself right in the middle of the bottom of the eighth inning, as well. Angel Pagan hit a leadoff double down the right field line against Rafael Soriano. Pagan tried to advance to third base on a ball that bounced away from Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Escobar dug the throw out of the dirt and put the tag down on Pagan just before he reached base.
The crowd and the Cubs dugout were not happy with the call, leading to a Lou Piniella argument and his first ejection of the season.
After the game got back underway, Soriano retired the side with ease.
Andruw Jones led off the ninth inning with a homerun to provide the Braves with some insurance that Bob Wickman wouldn’t need in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save.
Wickman allowed just a single to Alfonso Soriano before getting the third out of the inning to give the Braves a series win.
The Braves will go for the sweep when the take on the Cubs in an afternoon game on Sunday. Lance Cormier will make his season debut for the Braves and take on Sean Marshall.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Yunel Escobar was called up to take the place of Chipper Jones on the roster before the game on Saturday. He responded by acting like he’s been in the major leagues for years. Escobar was seemingly in the middle of everything that happened Saturday.
Having made the game seem easy, it turned out that the hardest part of his debut was actually arriving to the ballpark. He didn’t arrive at Wrigley Field until just an hour before first pitch. He had to stay overnight in Ft. Wayne, Indiana after his flight to Chicago was diverted there due to heavy rains.
When he got to the park, he was in the lineup and batting second. In his first at bat, he picked up a bloop hit over the second baseman’s head and his day got only better from there.
After Martin Prado drew a leadoff walk to begin the fourth inning, Escobar was called on to sacrifice him to second base. Escboar got the bunt down, but was credited with a fielder’s choice after Rich Hill attempted to get Prado at second. All runners were safe on the play, and the Braves took advantage of the mistake.
Edgar Renteria followed the error with a double to left field. Prado would come around to score with Escobar stopping at third. Escobar would later on a ground out by Andruw Jones, and Matt Diaz doubled in Renteria later in the inning.
Chuck James worked himself in and out of jams for most of the afternoon but was able to leave the game with a lead after the sixth inning. James allowed two runs on six hits and four walks, but lost his bid for a win when Tyler Yates allowed an unearned run to score in the seventh inning.
Ryan Theriot reached base on a one-out single. He moved to second due to an errant pickoff throw from Yates and scored on an error by Prado at second base.
The Braves came right back to take the lead in the eighth inning, however. Scott Thorman led off the inning with a walk. Thorman was moved to second base with a sacrifice bunt by Chris Woodward. After Prado popped out for the second out of the inning, Escobar doubled into left field to drive in Thorman, giving the Braves a 4-3 lead.
Escobar found himself right in the middle of the bottom of the eighth inning, as well. Angel Pagan hit a leadoff double down the right field line against Rafael Soriano. Pagan tried to advance to third base on a ball that bounced away from Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Escobar dug the throw out of the dirt and put the tag down on Pagan just before he reached base.
The crowd and the Cubs dugout were not happy with the call, leading to a Lou Piniella argument and his first ejection of the season.
After the game got back underway, Soriano retired the side with ease.
Andruw Jones led off the ninth inning with a homerun to provide the Braves with some insurance that Bob Wickman wouldn’t need in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save.
Wickman allowed just a single to Alfonso Soriano before getting the third out of the inning to give the Braves a series win.
The Braves will go for the sweep when the take on the Cubs in an afternoon game on Sunday. Lance Cormier will make his season debut for the Braves and take on Sean Marshall.