|
|
 |
Durso HR, Kenny’s RBIs Power Braves over A’s
The Braves offense exploded once again, but they needed every run as the Braves defeated the A’s (I) 18-14. Powered by Ritchie Durso’s (3 for 6, 3 runs, 3 RBI, 7TBs) 4th inning 3 run home run, and Tim Kenny’s (3 for 3, 2 SAC flies, 1 run, SB) 5 RBI day the Braves needed every run as the pesky A’s battled back the entire game. In fact, the A’s out hit the Braves 24-23, but walks and timely hitting allowed the Braves to capitalize, scoring 8 runs with two outs during the game. Every Brave in the line-up reached base safely at least once, and 10 of 11 batters via hits lead by Dan Mazilli’s 4 hit performance. (2 runs, RBI, SB), and 8 batters with multiple hits. This marks the second game this year where all but one Brave reached base on a base hit. John Ross continued his hot hand by coming up with another three hits (2 runs).
While the top half of the order got on base and scored 12 times, they were driven in by clutch hitting and SAC flies from the 6th (Kenny) and 7th batters (Chris Cichorek-3RBIs) combining for 8 RBIs.
Starting Braves pitcher Mark Van Overloop (2-0, 5.16 ERA) breezed through the first two innings easily, giving up one hit and striking out one. He ran into trouble in the 3rd as the A’s batted around, scoring 4 runs, followed by another 2 in the 4th. Van Overloop looked like he was back in a groove in the fifth facing only 4 batters and picking up his second strikeout followed by another strikeout to start the 6th, when after giving up hits to the next three batters, Durso turned to Kenny to get out of the inning which he did but not before allowing 2 inherited runners to score. The A’s touched Kenny (0-4, 1 Save 8.10 ERA) for 5 runs of his own in the final two innings, but the Braves held on, earning Van Overloop the win, and Kenny the first save in Braves history.
The Braves defense contributed to the win giving up only one error in the game, but they were plagued by bloop hits, bad hops, and seeing-eye ground balls.
.
|
|
