Walk off at the G-Braves

I was hit and miss with the Braves last week. Sounds like I didn’t miss much. Still a six game lead.

Saturday afternoon I drove out to see the Gwinnett Braves. Got there early and walked around. Saw “Crazy Darrell”, the fellow who attends every game at Turner Field, usually in full uniform. He’s the one who is always smiling at Mark Lemke, and Lemke always messes with Darrell. Darrell got a kick out of being recognized, and he gave me a hug and bumped fists with me. Read my Grisham paperback while standing in line waiting for the gates to open.

On a rehab assignment, the Nationals Danny Espinosa played shortstop and batted second. Late in the game ex-Diamondbacks pitcher Micah Owings blooped an opposite-field pinch-hit double down the right field line…much to the delight of a full section of family and friends sitting not far from the Syracuse Chiefs dugout.

Luis Avilan pitched well in the eighth. With a 7-5 lead, Corey Rasmus came in to pitch the ninth. He quickly gave up a walk, line drive single, and a three-run home run to blow the save. Later he gave up another single before retiring the side. But in the bottom of the ninth centerfielder Todd Cunningham led off with a single, then Joey Terdoslavich swatted a walk-off home run to win the game. It was Terdoslavich’s third hit (and second home run) of the game. A lefty, Joey deserves a September call-up to provide added pinch-hitting depth.   

So after allowing four of the seven batters he faced to reach base (and three to score), Corey Rasmus earned a blown save AND was the game’s winning pitcher.

Back home, Ceil watched the last few innings on TV. Alyssa’s family went over to the game in Rome.

Sunday I traded for a BJ Upton bobblehead, to go with my G-Braves Heyward bobblehead from Saturday’s game. Wednesday I stumbled across a Pirates Manny Sanguillen bobblehead.