Not ONLY did the Braves win last night 7-5 with a Yunel Escobar walk-off job in the 10th, but the Diamond Dogs certainly proved their worthiness of that national seed and host spot of the Super Regional site.
We'll discuss the Dawgs first. In the first the team got out to the 3-0 lead, but I had to temper my excitement because college ball is kind of like little league ball in that you pretty much EXPECT to give up a run or two every inning. So when UGA then fell behind 5-3, I wasn't panicking, because next thing you know, they were back up 6-5. Then the route was ON! 18-6 and I got to bring all of the Techhy fans the news on the HOME for Georgia Tech, Sports Radio 790 The Zone! HA! But on a side note, could we PLEASE speed up those games? Maybe a 9 batter rule or something? That was a little ridiculous. Now UGA will host NC State in a best of three at Foley Field starting Friday. It is just hard to see UGA NOT advancing to the CWS because they seem to be blessed this season. Go Dawgs
On to the Bravos. Lil tex had a pretty good early part of the game and Jo-Jo kept his team in it until the 7th when he left the contest with no outs and runners on first and third. I do like that Bobby Cox is starting to trust him and is seeing if he can get out of trouble spots. After being on the shortest leash EVER last year, Cox looks like he is seeing if Jo-Jo can swim. I like it. But as the game gets tied up, we enter the bottom of the 8th tied....and Yunel Escobar comes thru and we know Smoltzie will get a shot at the save. That place was ROCKING last night. Bobby, Paul and I were rocking....then ONE out! Then a double. Then a single. First and third one out....hit to the left side and through, oh no! WAIT, the LF lets the ball skip off his glove? WHAT? Either Norton or Infante makes me want to puke. He just kind of stood up and watched the ball squirt away....Ummm GO GET IT?!
Now the Braves were down one. But they didn't seem to panick, even after lil tex was retired (shocker! It was in the clutch!) to start the 9th, but Frenchy drew the walk, then McCann did as well. After Josh Anderson hit into a fielder's choice and then moved up on Defensive indifference, a wild pitch plated Francoeur to tie the game and suddenly this was a game that Atlanta would NOT lose.
Perhaps this was the Braves' charging the endzone and jumping up and down ala UGA/Florida game. Could that have broken the curse?
Well in the bottom of the 10th, Kelly Johnson drew a walk then advanced on a wild-pitch and Yunel Escobar made it all moot with a two run walk-off home run. And the funny part was, Yunel was trying to bunt KJ over, then the Florida pitcher got too cute and left a 3-0 pitch just hanging. Good for you Yunel. And to ALL pitchers out there...(Braves pitchers included) IF A BATTER IS TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN OUT, TAKE IT! Just TAKE IT! I bet the pitcher NOW wishes he had just thrown a fastball down the middle to let Escobar bunt it back. Maybe then you can retire Infante and walk Chipper with two outs to get lil tex to OF COURSE end the rally. Just saying. If they are GIVING you an out, TAKE IT!
Hull-low!
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