Conrad Slams The Braves To A Seven Run Ninth Inning Comeback

Wow! Wow. This looked like it would be a miserable day for the Braves. Their ace pitcher gave up eight runs and couldn't get the third out in the second inning. They grounded into double plays to kill rallies. Their wunderkind struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but then pinch hitter Brooks Conrad stepped to the plate. He was batting in Chipper Jones' spot in the lineup, after Chipper had been lifted in a double switch earlier in the game. On a 2-2 pitch, Conrad hit an opposite field grand slam on a fastball from the Reds closer. Braves walk off with the win.

Cincinnati may have been the team coming into this series known for their comeback wins, but the Braves matched their mojo in game one and topped all of their comebacks in game two. A seven-run comeback in the ninth inning! Capped off by a grand slam that went off the glove of the left fielder, as it was stretched over the wall. That is absolutely amazing.

I promise not to post any more Tommy Hanson mullet pictures. That must have been what jinxed him into having the worst outing of his big league career. Hanson couldn't get the third out in the top of the second inning. After a leadoff single, Hanson recorded two quick outs, and then it all fell apart... helped out somewhat by a radically inconsistent strike zone from the home plate umpire. Tommy walked a guy, then gave up a single, and then a grand slam. Hanson then gave up three more hits and was pulled from the game. The damage in that third inning, 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 earned runs.

Jesse Chavez, Jonny Venters, and Craig Kimbrel did a great job in relief. Chavez was able to record the third out in the second inning, but gave up a solo homerun in the fifth, which was the only run the trio of relievers surrendered in their seven and a third innings of work. Certainly their good work of not letting the score get more out of control allowed the Braves the confidence to come back and win this game.

The improbably hero, Brooks Conrad. This was the Braves third straight walk off win.