The Braves are back home and everything is as it should be. The Braves are winning, balls are leaving the yard and well, isn’t the Braves winning enough? It was a back and forth battle all night, lead changes, blown saves, a very exciting game! Of course the most exciting was Escobar’s walk off, two run home run. While the nick name “World’s Greatest Cuban” hasn’t caught on in the Braves clubhouse (yet), the title “big play” has, and it is well deserved.
Jojo gave us a quality start tonight. It was pretty clear he didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept the game close and was pulled when he faltered. He went six innings only allowing five hits and only one walk. Keeping walks to a minimum has been key for him. He struck out four, and limited the fish to three runs. Acosta allowed the tying run to score (charged to Reyes). But, he didn’t give up a hit. Soriano is still struggling with control, giving up two walks, but in the only stat that counts, runs, he was perfect. The return of Smoltz didn’t go as planed, but in his own words the new arm angle is still a work in progress. He gave up two runs and the lead on three hits. Ohman pitched the tenth, perfectly and got the win.
We had nine hits, not too bad. We made the hits we got count. In fact, tonight we saw the return of the long ball for the Braves. Three balls left the yard, one by Frenchy, by Tex and we cannot forget the game winner by Escobar. Speaking of Escobar, he had three hits, scored twice and drove in three. That is what is known as a pretty good night. Chipper reached base three times, two hits and a walk. Tex continues to seem to be heating up. In addition to his home run, he had another hit, scored and drove in two.
Braves win in extras, 7 - 5.
Tomorrow’s game, 7:10. Not nationally televised.
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