ESPN – Marlins vs. Braves – Box Score – June 03, 2008

I should call out players more often. (You’re next, Infante!) Greg Norton was 0-2 with a walk in his first three tries, and fell down on a routine fly ball to left field, though he made the catch. But with two on and nobody out in the eighth inning, trailing 4-3, Norton laced a double past first base, scoring Chipper and Teixeira, and ultimately winning the game.

Jorge Campillo didn’t have the magic tonight. He gave up a double to the first batter of the game, who later came around to score, and also allowed two homers to Dan Uggla (we should just avoid second basemen whose names begin with “U” from here on out) and left trailing 4-3.

The Braves’ runs had come in the first, on a three-run homer by Chipper, the 399th of his career. But after that, it was Hibernation Mode again. The Braves drew eight walks tonight, but only had six hits, and precious few from innings two through seven. But Jeff Bennett, back in the long relief role to which he’s well-suited, was brilliant, striking out four in three innings allowing one hit. Will Ohman pitched the seventh, and the rules say he gets the win, but Bennett was the primary pitching contributor tonight.

Chipper (2-4, .409) led off the eighth with a single. Teixeira followed with a double, then Norton drove them both home. The Braves had a good chance to add some insurance, but left the bases loaded (it was the second time in the game that Escobar ended the inning in that situation) and Bobby called on Soriano. This time, Soriano did it without any trouble, groundout, strikeout, groundout. If it matters, the Braves could catch the Marlins tomorrow for second, but the Phillies are and always have been the real concern.