ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Marlins at Braves

Chipper’s back.

So, we had pretty much the situation of last night. The Braves trailed by a run (3-2 this time) in the ninth, but came back to tie it. The Marlins then took the lead in the eleventh, but the Braves won in the bottom of the inning.

Smoltz was terrific for seven innings, but got whittled to death in the eighth, allowing three singles and an intentional walk. Bobby pulled him with the bases loaded, one out, having thrown 130 pitches. But Remlinger gave up a two-run single to the lefty hitter and Smoltz looked about to be tagged with the loss.

But in the ninth, Diaz hit a pinch-hit single, Orr ran for him and was sacrificed to second, then stole third. Renteria was hit by a pitch, and Chipper beat out an attempt to turn the double play, tying the game at three.

Vulture Villareal allowed a run in the eleventh, but no worry there. Marcus singled, Renteria walked, and Chipper took the first pitch out to right-center for his first homer since April 28. Villareal got the win even though he was by far the worst pitcher of the night.

Chipper finished with three hits and five RBI. I was starting to get worried about him; he was getting on base but not hitting the ball with any authority. Hopefully, that’s over with. Giles, McCann (.354) and LaRoche all had two hits.