posted August 27, 2008
) Photo by Tim Evearitt (file photo) Yunel Escobar drove in the winning run. |
The Braves were previously 1-63 in games in which they were trailing after eight innings.
It would be tough to duplicate the joy that was present in his clubhouse after Yunel Escobar completed the dramatic comeback by directing a two-out single through the deserted right side of the infield.
"I thought the way that we won was so cool," said Jeff Francoeur, who drove in the ninth-inning's second run with a single off Kevin Gregg. "Having our backs to the wall like that, it showed we are going to fight until the end."
Given that they've had very little this season, the Braves gladly accepted the reality that it sometimes requires luck to find success. Escobar's game-winning grounder could have easily been a game-ending grounder if Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla had not inexplicably moved to his right when Gregor Blanco broke toward second base. This left the right side of the infield wide open.
Just moments before, Blanco's potential game-ending double-play groundout turned into a run-producing fielder's choice when Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was unable to get the ball out of his glove and make the throw to first base.
While winning for just the third time in their last 17 home games, the Braves jumped out to a three-run, first-inning lead and then overcame one of the worst starts of Jair Jurrjens' young career. The 22-year-old rookie, who has posted a 5.56 ERA in his past six starts, struggled with his slider, and found the Marlins sitting on his fastball while letting his inconsistent changeup float out of the strike zone.
Jurrjens, who surrendered a season-high six earned runs while lasting a season-short three-plus innings, allowed the Marlins to claim a 6-3 third-inning advantage. They would add to that advantage with Cody Ross' two-run, seventh-inning homer off Julian Tavarez and a ninth-inning run off Will Ohman, who has surrendered eight hits and six earned runs while completing just two innings over his past seven outings.
After Ross' ninth-inning double off Ohman gave the Marlins a 9-6 lead, the Braves took advantage of Gregg, who had struck out Chipper Jones to end the eighth with the bases-loaded.
Omar Infante began the ninth-inning charge with a single, and scored when Martin Prado followed with his second double of the evening. Francoeur and Kelly Johnson added consecutive singles, before Clint Sammons hit a harmless infield pop fly.
This prompted the entry of Mark Kotsay, who was scratched from the lineup because the Braves are close to trading him to another club, likely the Red Sox. Because Johnson had alertly taken an unguarded second base on his single, Gregg intentionally walked Kotsay, who may have affected Ramirez with a hard slide into second base following Blanco's potential double-play grounder.
The game-winner came moments later, when Escobar directed a first-pitch fastball through the right side of the infield.
The Braves, who are now 7-25 in one-run games, were given an opportunity to enjoy their ninth walk-off win of the season, and first since their 17-inning thriller against the Astros on July 6.
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Adapted from MLB.com
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