BRAVES TAKE HOME A GIFT FROM DODGERS : ATLANTA 6, DODGERS 4.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer There was no defense. And there is no defense. The problem: Three errors in the ninth inning - two by sure-handed outfielders - and two more mishaps that easily could have been errors. The Dodgers looked as if they were the ones completing an 18-game road trip, not the Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. . And it was the Braves - a team the Dodgers are somewhat in awe of - who benefited from four errors and scored two runs in the ninth to eke out eke out Verb [eking, eked] 1. to make (a supply) last for a long time by using as little as possible 2. a 6-4 win in front of 45,903 impatient fans Sunday at Dodger Stadium • • [ . Actually, the Dodgers held a 4-3 lead in the eighth with reliever Darren Dreifort
In the ninth, Mark Guthrie Fred McGriff Relief pitcher relief pitcher n. Baseball A pitcher who replaces another during a game. Noun 1. relief pitcher - a pitcher who does not start the game fireman, reliever Pedro Borbon then singled. And with two out, a potential inning-ending grounder to third base by Perez was collected by Juan Castro but thrown to Eric Karros as if he were Shaquille O'Neal. By the time Karros ran down the overthrow, pinch-runner Rafael Belliard was halfway to the dugout with the second unearned run. After the game, manager Bill Russell spent the first line of questioning Noun 1. line of questioning - an ordering of questions so as to develop a particular argument line of inquiry line of reasoning, logical argument, argumentation, argument, line - a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the defending why he took Mike Busch out of the game and switched second baseman Castro to third. ``He can play anywhere in the infield,'' Russell said of Castro. ``There's a big void. It's tough to fill (Brett) Butler's spot and it's tough to fill (Mike) Blowers spot. It's tough.'' After allowing a leadoff single to Karros in the bottom of the ninth, Mark Wohlers overmatched Kirby, Greg Gagne and Delino DeShields on strikeouts. It was frustrating not only because none of the three could get on base but also if they had, Russell was itching to bring a rested Mike Piazza to the plate with a chance to win the game. However, only Piazza, who caught 14 innings on Saturday and whose knees were sore, and Todd Hollandsworth - with an injured elbow -were available on the bench. ``If I replace Gagne with Piazza, then who's going to play short?'' Russell asked. ``We were short on guys.'' The loss spoiled a 3-for-3 effort by Piazza's replacement, Tom Prince, including an RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in squeeze bunt in the seventh. Karros also hit two balls that were nearly home runs, including one that hit the cement strip on top of the right-field wall, resulting in a double. ``This place is turning into a graveyard,'' Karros said. These were the vulnerable Braves - or as vulnerable as they're going to get. Because of the Olympics, Atlanta (68-42) had to play 18 straight road games and Sunday was the last. The Braves were tired, had just played 18 innings on Saturday, and the Dodgers still bobbled away the game. ``I look at it this way, we played 27 innings and lost just two games,'' Karros said. ``With the way we've played, we could have lost more.'' While Russell said he would like to see Atlanta in the playoffs, Karros remarked that the Dodgers better worry about winning the Western Division first. They stand 1-1/2 games back of San Diego with an eight-game road trip ahead. ``Atlanta's going to play somebody in the playoffs,'' Karros said. ``The question is, are we?'' ALL THUMBS Six Dodgers fielding mishaps - four of them ruled errors - weighed heavily on Sunday's outcome, a 6-4 loss to Atlanta. BRAVES FIFTH: With Ed Giovanola on first, Fred McGriff hits a grounder off first baseman Eric Karros' mitt. Giovanola goes to third and later scores. Ruled a single. BRAVES SIXTH: Tom Glavine hits a liner to left fielder Billy Ashley, who freezes, misjudges the ball, then sprints back in vain. It is ruled a double because Ashley never touched the ball. ERRORS BRAVES SIXTH: With Glavine on third, Giovanola hits a fly ball to Chad Curtis in center field. After making the catch, Curtis throws a one-hopper to catcher Tom Prince, and Glavine scores. Marquis Grissom moves to third on the wild throw, but he doesn't score. No damage done. BRAVES NINTH: In right field, Raul Mondesi bobbles a single by McGriff, allowing McGriff to hustle to second. BRAVES NINTH: Klesko follows with a single to left. McGriff intends to stop at third but scores after Wayne Kirby bobbles the ball. Klesko is thrown out at second. One run. BRAVES NINTH: With Rafael Belliard on first and two out, second baseman Juan Castro throws Eddie Perez's grounder over the head of Karros. Belliard, running on the pitch, comes all the way around to score. One run. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--color) Infielder Juan Castro looks back f or the ball after one of many misplays by the Dodgers. Andy Holzman / Special to the Daily News (2) Dodgers shortstop Greg Gagne chases down Braves baserunner Fred McGriff between first and second. McGriff was tagged out. Andy Holzman / Special to the Daily News Box: All Thumbs (see Text) |
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