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Braves Provide Holiday Fireworks In 6-2 Win Over Astros
Astros Losing Streak Now Stands At 4
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Jason Perry hit a run-scoring triple in his first major league at-bat, Tim Hudson gave up only one run in seven innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak.
The Braves, who hadn't led a game in a week, won hours after the demotion of the popular Francoeur, a move general manager Frank Wren called the most difficult of his career. Wren plans to recall the slumping outfielder after the All-Star break.
Perry, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Richmond, drove in Brian McCann from first base with a triple to the right-field wall in the second inning. Perry's hit followed Mark Kotsay's run-scoring fly to center field that gave the Braves a 1-0 lead _ their first in 47 innings, since the ninth inning of a 4-0 win at Toronto last Friday.
Kelly Johnson added a two-run homer as the Braves recovered from being swept by Philadelphia in a three-game home series for the second time this season.
Hudson (9-6) gave up four hits and one run, with three walks and six strikeouts. Mike Gonzalez pitched a perfect ninth for Atlanta.
McCann drove in Chipper Jones with a third-inning single for a 3-0 lead.
Lance Berkman drove in Darin Erstad with a single to left in the sixth, but Johnson answered with his two-run homer off Brian Moehler (4-4) in the bottom of the inning. Moehler gave up six hits and five runs in six innings.
Jones' second hit, a single off Wesley Wright in the seventh, drove in Gregor Blanco, who was hit by a pitch from Wright to lead off the inning.
Erstad led off the eighth with a single off Blaine Boyer and scored on a groundout by Miguel Tejada.
Perry is the first Atlanta player to hit a triple in his first major league at-bat, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He's the first Braves player to have a triple for his first hit since Martin Prado on April 23, 2006.
Notes: The Astros will continue this three-game series with the Braves Saturday evening at Turner Field in Atlanta. Channelview's Chris Sampson is scheduled to make the start for the Astros. Live coverage will begin on NewsRadio 740 KTRH at 5 PM with Astros On Deck, and first pitch slated to come at 6:10 PM. The Astros 10th Inning call-in show will be heard immediately following the game.
The Braves, who hadn't led a game in a week, won hours after the demotion of the popular Francoeur, a move general manager Frank Wren called the most difficult of his career. Wren plans to recall the slumping outfielder after the All-Star break.
Perry, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Richmond, drove in Brian McCann from first base with a triple to the right-field wall in the second inning. Perry's hit followed Mark Kotsay's run-scoring fly to center field that gave the Braves a 1-0 lead _ their first in 47 innings, since the ninth inning of a 4-0 win at Toronto last Friday.
Kelly Johnson added a two-run homer as the Braves recovered from being swept by Philadelphia in a three-game home series for the second time this season.
Hudson (9-6) gave up four hits and one run, with three walks and six strikeouts. Mike Gonzalez pitched a perfect ninth for Atlanta.
McCann drove in Chipper Jones with a third-inning single for a 3-0 lead.
Lance Berkman drove in Darin Erstad with a single to left in the sixth, but Johnson answered with his two-run homer off Brian Moehler (4-4) in the bottom of the inning. Moehler gave up six hits and five runs in six innings.
Jones' second hit, a single off Wesley Wright in the seventh, drove in Gregor Blanco, who was hit by a pitch from Wright to lead off the inning.
Erstad led off the eighth with a single off Blaine Boyer and scored on a groundout by Miguel Tejada.
Perry is the first Atlanta player to hit a triple in his first major league at-bat, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He's the first Braves player to have a triple for his first hit since Martin Prado on April 23, 2006.
Notes: The Astros will continue this three-game series with the Braves Saturday evening at Turner Field in Atlanta. Channelview's Chris Sampson is scheduled to make the start for the Astros. Live coverage will begin on NewsRadio 740 KTRH at 5 PM with Astros On Deck, and first pitch slated to come at 6:10 PM. The Astros 10th Inning call-in show will be heard immediately following the game.
© 2008