|
|
 |
Braves Win First Game of Season. Pitching Staff Stars
Braves pitchers starred on both sides of the plate as starter Mark Van Overloop shut down the Black Sox after the 3rd inning, along with help from relievers John Ross, who got the win, and Tim Kenny. Offensively, this trio was responsible for scoring 7 of the Braves 11 runs, while going a combined 8 for 13. Catcher Rick Bedford put on a hitting clinic of his own by breaking out of an early season slump by scorching Black Sox pitching with four straight right-center field gap hits.
After falling behind early by scores of 3-1, 5-2, after three innings, the Braves pitching and defense was flawless the rest of the way in this extra inning win. The Braves pulled within one run in the 7th on a SAC fly by Chris Cichorek, and a RBI single by Kenny, eventually tying the score in the 9th on a RBI-fielders choice by manager Ritchie Durso.
The Braves exploded in the 11th inning, finally chasing the Black Sox starter, and showing the reliever no respect by scoring 6 runs on 8 hits. The game, although an extra inning affair, was completed in a record 2 hours, 45 minutes.
The game gave reliever Ross the first pitching win in Braves history and avoided embarrassment as manager Durso threatened to return to the uniforms of the Marlins unless the Braves won this game. Players were relieved to know that the teal and black could remain in mothballs, at least for the time being.
|
|
