The Atlanta Braves, sparked offensively by former Pirate Nate McLouth (3-5 with a HR), took a 6-3 lead into the 7th inning against Pittsburgh. Then came Peter Moylan and his 5.40 ERA. The Braves reliever gave up 4 hits and allowed 3 earned runs in a very poor performance out of the bullpen. Atlanta had a firm grasp on this game, until Moylan was allowed to put his Australian fingerprints on the baseball. The Braves led 5-1 after 5 innings. Kenshin Kawakami gave up 2 runs in the 6th, but Moylan's 7th inning meltdown cost him a chance to win his 4th game of the season. This one is headed for extra innings, as Chipper Jones just missed a walk off homerun. Rafael Soriano is on the mound for Atlanta.
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2 outs for Brandon Moss. Adam Laroche is on second. 1-2 to Moss.
Moss keeps fouling off pitches. Still 1-2.
Strike 3. McCann will lead off for Atlanta in the bottom of the 10th.
The game is tied at 6. Braves just need one more skinny little run.
Great play by Adam Laroche. 1 out for Atlanta. Sean Burnett pitches to Garrett Anderson.
Single to left. OF Gregor Blanco to pinch run for the former Angels All Star. Pittsburgh will make a pitching change. Waiting on SportsSouth. They tell us that Steven Jackson is on the mound. Francouer bats for Atlanta. The guys on TV expect Blanco to be aggressive on the basepaths. 1-0 to Francouer.
Hard to execute a hit and run play with Francouer at the play. Doesn't make enough contact. Jackson keeps throwing to 1st. Good job of holding Blanco near the bag. 2-1 to Francouer.
Blanco steals.
With the count 3-1 and 1B open, Pirates intentionally walk Francouer. Martin Prado at the plate for Atlanta. 0-2 to Prado.
Double play.
Braves and Pirates go to 11th inning tied at 6.
Manny Acosta pitching for Atlanta in the 11th. Strikes out the first batter. Jack Wilson flies out. 2 away for Pittsburgh, as Craig Monroe takes ball 1.
Poor decision by the 3rd base coach!
Monroe singled. Andrew McCutchen followed with a single to left. Pittsburgh's 3B coach sent the runner, and got him thrown out by a mile!
Braves up to bat in bottom of 11th. Game still tied at 6.
Kelly Johnson is 1-5 after striking out.
Manny Acosta strikes out (bunted ball foul on 1-2 count). Don't quite understand the strategy. Nate McLouth strikes out. We go to 12.
2 outs, but Acosta just walked the Laroche boys. Go ahead run is at 2nd, as Ramon Vazquez (PH) takes 2 straight balls.
Vazquez bails out Acosta with a weak pop out to end the inning. Yunel Escobar will lead off for the Braves in the bottom of the 12th.
Evan Meek 4.08 ERA on the mound for Pittsburgh. Escobar .292 is 1-5 tonight. 2-1 count to the Braves SS.
Chipper Jones is on deck.
3-2 to Escobar.
Escobar flied out to right. May have injured himself on the swing. Chipper grounds out. Looks like this game may go on all night.
Brian McCann singles to right. Jurrjens will pinch run, as G Blanco steps into the batter's box. 0-1 to Blanco.
Wild pitch! Jurrjens to second.
Blanco grounds out.
Kris Medlen pitched a flawless 13th. Braves will bat with a chance to win. Just need 1 scrawny run.
Francouer walks to lead off the inning. Martin (.265) Prado sacrifice bunts the runner to second. May have injured his knee. Braves can't afford that. Martin has done an excellent job filling in for Chipper at 3rd and Casey Kotchman at 1B. Can not lose Prado to an injury. Utility man, Omar Infante is already on the DL. Kelly Johnson strkies out...again. 2 out, as Catcher David Ross (.277) bats. Winning run is on 2nd.
Strike 3 to Ross. Game goes to 14th inning. Thanks alot, Moylan.
Medlen survives terrible defense in the 14th. Game tied at 6. Nate McLouth leads off.
Braves CF strikes out. Escobar up to bat.
Escobar flies out. Chipper Jones at bat.
Pirates will intentionally walk Jones. Pitcher spot due up. Kris Medlen will bat for himself. Looks like the game will at least go 15 innings.
Medlen flies out to Freddy Sanchez. Inning over.
No runs for Pittsburgh in 15th. Gregor Blanco leads off for Atlanta and takes a base on balls. J Francouer (.244) batting. Sac bunt?
Lousy execution by the former Parkview Panther. Bunted the ball too hard and lead runner was thrown out at 2nd. Man on 1st, 1 out for Prado.
Wasted at bat by Francouer.
Single by Prado. Runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Kelly Johnson bats.
TV crew noticed Prado limping into 1st base. Braves can not afford for him to be injured. Starting 1B Casey Kotchman is already on the DL.
Pirates walk Johnson. David Ross bats with bases full of Braves. 1 out.
1-2 to Ross.
GAME OVER! Ross hits a ground ball to short. Throw to the plate NOT IN TIME!! 7-6 Braves!
Home plate ump actually ruled that the catcher's foot came off of home plate. Throw was better than I realized. But, who cares? Bobby Cox wins his 2,000 game and I can finally go to bed. Go Braves!!
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