ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Braves at Devil Rays

Miserable Braves Loss Ty–

What?

Are you sure?

Well, how about that.

The Braves actually won a game for the first time in nearly two weeks. Won it even though John Smoltz (having blown a 2-0 lead in the first) left with two out in the third after apparently suffering a muscle pull. The Braves had to turn to Oscar Villareal in long relief. Villareal was terrific, going 4 1/3 and allowing just two hits and one walk, striking out two. For once, he was the guy left hanging because the Braves couldn’t score — couldn’t do much of anything off of the Legendary Casey Fossum after Andruw hit a two-run homer in the first inning.

The Horrible Tyler Yates then allowed a run in the seventh, giving up a two-out single followed by a triple that Andruw apparently thought was out. But the Braves actually responded. First, they got a run, then the bullpen locked down. Giles singled with one out, Renteria doubled to put them second and third. Chipper was semi-intentionally walked, which just shows that the Rays haven’t been paying attention because he hasn’t made good contact this month. Andruw hit a long sac fly to tie it.

McBride got in trouble, allowing a single and a walk, then a sac fly to put them first and third, but got a double play to get out of it. Stockman pitched the ninth, walking two, then left with an injury to his leg. Sosa allowed a walk and a hit in the tenth.

Then — you knew this was the sort of thing that the team needed — Francoeur drew a leadoff walk. Diaz sacrificed him to second, Betemit was intentionally walked. And then they pulled a double-steal to get to second and third. Pratt hit a liner that Lugo couldn’t quite handle (he got Betemit in a rundown) and the Braves had the lead.

Sosa got the first two in the eleventh, then allowed what looked for all the world like a game-tying homer, but it died on the track.

Anyway, nice work from the bullpen. Go figure.