Braves Rally for Series Victory Over the Astros

Tommy Hanson has to be wondering what more he has to do to get a win. Hanson once again turned in a dominating effort only to come away with nothing to show for it. Luckily for the Braves they were able to rally in extra innings and temporarily at least put the Phillies three games behind them in the National League Eastern Division.

Hanson pitched seven strong innings while only allowing two hits and one unearned run. With the score tied at 1-1 in the fifth Hanson took the offense into his own hands and singled home Brooks Conrad to give the Braves the lead. Hanson hasn’t allowed more than one earned run in any of his last four starts. Yet his record over that time is 0-2 with two no decisions. In fact Hanson hasn’t won a game since way back on July  3rd.

The Braves wasted little time getting on the board as a first inning ground out by Alex Gonzalez plated Melky Cabrera giving the Braves a temporary 1-0 lead. The Astros battled back with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. Tommy Hanson then singled home Brooks Conrad in the 5th to put the Braves back on top.

The score remained 2-1 as Hanson lasted through seven. The Braves turned things over to Jonny Venters in the 8th and then to Billy Wagner in the ninth. Hunter Pence quickly led off the inning with an infield hit. Carlos Lee then followed with a single and Pence took third on the play. With men at the corners and no one out Astros third baseman then hit a sac fly to right that scored Pence. Wagner rallied to retire the next two batters and sent the game to extra innings.

The Braves offense busted loose in the top of the 10th off of Brandon Lyon. After a Brooks Conrad fly out to start the inning Rick Ankiel drew a walk. Ankiel was then picked off by catcher Humberto Quintero but first baseman Pedro Feliz couldn’t handle the throw. Ankiel took second on the error. After an intentional walk to pinch hitter Eric Hinske, Omar Infante doubled high off of the left field wall to give the Braves the lead for good. After another intentional walk to load the bases Alex Gonzalez extended the lead with an RBI single of his own.

After a pitching change, Brian McCann stepped to the plate and delivered the Braves thrid pinch hit grand slam of the season to put them up 8-2. The home run was McCann’s 17th of the season and his seventh grand slam of his career which ties him with Javy Lopez and Hank Aaron for the all time lead in Atlanta Braves history.

Takashi Saito closed things out in the bottom half of the 10th. The Braves will enjoy an off day tomorrow before opening a four game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Chipper Jones is scheduled to have an MRI exam on his injured knee on Thursday. For the second straight day Jason Heyward was held out of the lineup also with a sore knee. He is expected back in the lineup on Friday.