DEL.ICIO.USNorton homer helps Braves rally past Mets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, September 14, 2008
New York — Greg Norton hit a dozen pinch-hit homers previously, but none any sweeter than the ninth-inning shot Sunday that fueled an improbable Braves comeback against the New York Mets.
Norton’s three-run homer drove in the decisive runs in a five-run inning that gave Atlanta a 7-4 win and series victory before a stunned crowd of 56,041 in the Braves’ last game at Shea Stadium.
AP
Greg Norton hits a three-run home run that drove in the decisive runs in a five-run ninth inning that gave Atlanta a 7-4 win and series victory on Sunday over the New York Mets.
“Fun day for the Bravos,” said manager Bobby Cox, whose fourth-place Braves suddenly seem reinvigorated, winning eight of 12 relatively meaningless games since a 4-17 skid that sunk them to depths they hadn’t explored in nearly two decades.
The Braves rallied for their ninth win in 15 games against the division-leading Mets, bidding goodbye and good riddance to old Shea. Some Braves took pictures of the massive scoreboard after the final out, while the score was still displayed.
“I think it was huge for our team,” Norton said. “We’re just trying to play as well as we can for the rest of the year. To take two out of three from the Mets, who are playing really well, at their place, last time in Shea Stadium … it’s big for us.
“It’ll make our off day [Monday] a little nicer.”
Chipper Jones had three hits in his last game at a place where he’s thrived, after missing Saturday’s doubleheader due to back spasms.
“It was a good way to say goodbye,” said Jones, who had an RBI double in the third inning and a single in the ninth. “All the tough, close games we’ve played here, I can’t think of a more fitting way for my last game here to end.”
Mets star David Wright had four hits including two homers in the first three innings against Braves starter Jorge Campillo, who threw 87 pitches in 3-2/3 innings and gave up eight hits and four runs.
But the Braves’ maligned bullpen came through with its best performance in weeks, as five relievers combined for 5-1/3 scoreless innings including Mike Gonzalez, who converted his 11th save.
“Our bullpen did a whale of a job,” Cox said. “Outstanding. That’s where we won the game. We had the big artillery on the bench, and we got big some big hits in the ninth.”
The Braves roared back in the ninth with a unexpected burst against new Mets closer Luis Ayala (2-9) and lefty Pedro Feliciano.
Ayala faced three batters, gave up three runs on three hits, including the Norton homer, and got his second blown saves in eight opportunities since coming from Washington in an Aug. 17 trade.
Casey Kotchman led off the inning with a single and Kelly Johnson followed with a pinch-hit single before Norton hit his 13th pinch homer and third this season, on a full-count Ayala fastball.
“That was cool,” Johnson said. “It was rowdy [in the dugout]. That was a good at-bat right there by Nort. He battled. That was awesome. He’s been outstanding the whole year.
“Nort’s a favorite in the clubhouse, so everybody’s always pulling for him.”
Norton got behind 1-2 against Ayala, then worked the count full, fouling off a couple of pitches before his game-winning homer.
“That’s the third one this year, but it’s the first one that put us ahead and got us the victory,” he said of the pinch homer. “So obviously that one’s bigger than the others.
“That’s been my role as of late. A pinch-hitter just tries to get as many big hits as he can, that’s all I can do.”
It was his seventh homer this season and the fourth in his past 25 at-bats for Norton. “He’s done a super job,” Cox said. “He can sit for a while, not play, and still get a hit.”
Norton has shone as a pinch-hitter, hitting .333 (17-for-51) with three homers and 17 RBIs in the role many consider to be one of the most difficult in baseball.
“Reall professional hitter,” Jones said. “He knows his role and prepares for it. He might have earned himself a job for next year.”
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