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Andruw, McCann rally Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They trailed 5-0 before the midway point for the second consecutive game, but this time the Braves refused to go away quietly.
Brian McCann and Andruw Jones drove in nine of 11 runs during a three-inning burst that propelled the Braves to a 11-8 win against Florida in Monday night’s series opener at Turner Field.
McCann had a career-high five RBIs on three hits including a three-run homer, and Jones was 4-for-4 with four RBIs, the last on a single that scored Adam LaRoche for a 9-8 lead in the seventh. All 11 Braves runs came with two outs, including two in the fifth, six in the sixth and three in the third.
“We needed every one of them,” said manager Bobby Cox, whose third-place Braves got their sixth win in eight games to pick up a half-game on idle New York and Philadelphia in the NL East.
They are 5-1/2 games behind the Mets and 4-1/2 behind the surging Phillies, who’ve won 13 of 14. The negative was a groin injury that forced Braves starting pitcher Kyle Davies from the game in the third inning and will put him on the disabled list indefinitely. He allowed five runs including four in the third, when he left without recording an out.
“It popped,” said Davies, who didn’t think the soreness he felt earlier was serious enough for him not to pitch.
“He’s definitely going to be out for a while,” said Cox, who wasn’t pleased to learn that Davies had been sore all day and didn’t tell the manager, pitching coach, or the training staff.
No one was bigger — literally or figuratively — for the Braves than journeyman reliever Chad Paronto. The 260-pounder had a career-high six strikeouts in three scoreless innings after Davies exited.
“Stellar. He kept us in the game,” Cox said of Paronto. “It was amazing how he did so well.”
Cox said the Braves haven’t decided who will take Davies’ spot in the rotation, but said left-hander Horacio Ramirez (hamstring) will need at least one more minor league rehab start Thursday. Journeyman Travis Smith at Class AAA Richmond is a possibility for one start until Ramirez is ready.
McCann’s three-run homer keyed a six-run sixth for an 8-5 lead. It was his fifth home run and second in three games.
“This is the best I’ve felt at the plate probably in my whole life,” said the 22-year-old catcher from Duluth, who is batting .352 overall and .429 with 12 RBIs in his past 20 games.
McCann was among the many Braves offering LaRoche support after he was booed Sunday and again Monday. LaRoche doubled down the left-field line in the seventh, when his hustle was conspicuous.
“When the year is said and done, he will be one of our leaders,” McCann said, “and be the Adam laRoche he’s been the last two years — 20 homers, .280, Gold Glove [-caliber defense].”
McCann and Jones drove in seven of eight Braves runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Jones had an RBI single in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth to chase reliever Matt Herges. McCann greeted right-hander Randy Messenger with a homer to the Braves’ bullpen. Jeff Francoeur also had one of the five singles in the inning, extending his career-best hitting streak to 13 games.
Florida answered with Mike Jacobs’ three-run homer in the seventh off Oscar Villarreal, giving him six RBIs and three extra-base hits.
Davies exited shortly after Jacobs’ bases-loaded double skipped past first baseman Brian Jordan to extend Florida’s lead to 4-0.
Dan Uggla had led off the third with a home run, the 11th homer allowed by Davies in 37-2/3 innings over his past seven starts.
After Jacobs’ bases-clearing double, Davies went to a 2-2 count against Miguel Olivo before stepping off the mound. He was done.
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