The rally towels were out and working for last night's exciting game with the Atlanta Braves.It all came down to the 8th inning. Kelly Johnson led off for the Braves with a double and reached 3rd on a bobble by Victorino. Reliever Rudy Seanez got Infante to line out sharply to short, then got Francoeur to ground a ball to short. Johnson broke for home and Rollins zipped the ball to Ruiz, who applied the tag. Two outs! Everyone on their feet, towels twirling. And Kotchman flied out to end the inning and keep the game tied at 2.
In the bottom of the 8th, pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs led off with a single and speedster Greg Golson, a double-A call-up, came in to pinch run. Braves' reliever Jeff Bennett immediately threw over to 1st---and threw the ball away! Off like a shot, Golson sped around to 3rd. Rollins grounded out. With Golson still at 3rd, Utley was given an intentional walk to set up the double play. Jayson Werth hit a hard grounder snared by third baseman Prado, who opted to throw home on the bolting Golson. Safe! The ball beat Golson but he clearly beat the tag. Instant pandemonium. Pat Burrell capped it all off with a three-run homer off reliever Julian Tavares. Ryan Madson, in to close out the 9th, bent but did not break in the 6-2 win.
Meanwhile, as the crowd was well aware, the Cubs were mopping up the Mets just 100 miles north in NY.
J.A. Happ was solid for 6.2, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. The young guys again came through. It was a very good game.
