| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
ATLANTA (AP) -- Andy Ashby managed to survive a first inning that
could have been a disaster.
The Atlanta right-hander gave up only two runs in the inning and
Javy Lopez broke out of a 2-for-26 slump with a pair of run-scoring
singles as the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Florida Marlins
5-3 Thursday.
Ashby (10-12) gave up a two-run single in the first to Mike
Lowell, then held Florida scoreless until the eighth inning.
"I was just out of synch a little bit, but after I got my
rhythm going I made the pitches I needed to," Ashby said.
Atlanta, which began the day with a two-game lead over
second-place New York in the NL East, won its second straight and
completed a 6-3 homestand.
Ashby, 6-5 since the Braves acquired him from Philadelphia on
July 12, allowed three runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.
"The first inning was a big one for us. They easily could have
gotten four runs, instead they got two," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox
said. "But Andy was able to turn it around, get the strikeout and
pop. After that he was picture perfect."
Lowell's single put Florida ahead 2-0 and left the Marlins with
runners at the corners for Derrek Lee with one out. Ashby struck
out Lee and retired Alex Gonzalez on a flyout.
"The strikeout was big," Ashby said. "Thank God we made the
pitches and didn't give up more than two runs."
John Rocker, Atlanta's third pitcher, walked his first batter on
four pitches leading off the ninth, then struck out the side for
his 21st save in 23 chances.
Lopez, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, singled off Reid Cornelius
(3-9) for a 3-2 lead in the sixth after Wally Joyner walked and
Brian Jordan singled.
Keith Lockhart, who also drove in two runs, followed with a
sacrifice fly.
Chipper Jones singled off Ricky Bones with two outs in the
seventh, stole second and scored on a single by Andres Galarraga to
make it 5-2.
Preston Wilson's RBI double chased Ashby in the eighth.
Cornelius (3-9) dropped to 0-7 in 12 starts since beating
Montreal on July 2, giving up four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3
innings.
"Yeah, you think about it," he said of the losing streak,
"but you have to put it out of your mind and just pitch. I just
happen to be in this streak right now. No one says the game of
baseball is fair."
Lopez and Lockhart hit run-scoring singles that tied the game in
the fourth.
Game notes
Umpire Steve Rippley missed his second straight game due to
an illness. He was replaced by Morris Hodges, who umpired in the
Pacific Coast League this season. ... Before beating Montreal 3-2
in his last start, Ashby hadn't won since July 8, going 0-4 with a
no-decision.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 7
Cleveland 4
Toronto 3
NY Yankees 2
Texas 8
Kansas City 1
Atlanta 5
Florida 3
Milwaukee 6
Cincinnati 4
NY Mets 10
Montreal 4
Houston 8
Pittsburgh 7
St. Louis 4
Chicago Cubs 0
Colorado 5
Los Angeles 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Andy Ashby says the defense came up big in Atlanta's win over Florida.
wav: 140 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Tom Glavine wants his team to play the way that they can.
wav: 118 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Chipper Jones knows that the next games are the most important.
wav: 110 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|