Martin Prado played like a (utility) man on a mission Tuesday night for the Braves, and in the end he won more than just a 10-inning game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
He won a starting job.
Prado had a career-high four hits and four RBIs, including a homer and a game-ending single in the Braves' thrilling 5-4, come-from-behind win at Turner Field, their first home win against the Phillies since 2007.
Afterward, Braves manager Bobby Cox said Prado would be the starting second baseman over slumping Kelly Johnson, at least for a while.
"He's too hot to take out," Cox said of Prado, who hit a two-out, eighth-inning RBI double to tie the score, and a one-out single after falling behind in the count 0-2 against Chan Ho Park in the 10th.
"Tonight I went out and did my best," said Prado, who has played most of the season with a sore groin that was wrapped with icebags late Tuesday, as it is after every game. "I'm proud for the team, that we won today. ...
"Whatever the position -- if Bobby wants to keep me in the lineup, that makes me feel really good. I just want to keep playing hard for the team."
His hit over the left fielder drove in Matt Diaz from third with the winning run, after Diaz singled and advanced on Gregor Blanco's third hit.
"Man had a game and a half," third baseman Chipper Jones said of Prado, who led the fourth-place Braves to their fifth win in seven games against the National League East-leading Phillies this season and to within four games of the lead.
The Braves finished 4-15 against the Phillies in 2008, including 0-9 at Turner Field. Tuesday was the first game in Atlanta between the teams this season.
"[Prado] and Blanco were in the middle of everything," Jones said. "They were the sole reason we got a 'W'.... I love [Prado]. He's a good player.
"Due to certain circumstances, it comes down to who's playing the best. Martin's swinging the bat. Kelly's struggling. Kelly's going to get another opportunity somewhere down the line."
Johnson has hit .168 with no homers and five RBIs in his past 28 games, and .216 with a .288 on-base percentage for the season. Prado has hit .299 with a .360 OBP while playing several positions.
Prado and Blanco helped the Braves overcome a blown lead after Mike Gonzalez gave up consecutive two-out homers in the eighth by John Mayberry Jr. and Pedro Feliz.
Gonzalez had not allowed an earned run in 15 consecutive appearances before giving up those two long balls to the team that leads the National League with 107 home runs, including 60 in road games.
But the Braves answered in the bottom of the eighth when Prado hit a two-out double to score Blanco, who had walked and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt.
Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur didn't wear his lucky "turkey underwear" to the ballpark, as he had intended to do after the Braves beat Boston on Sunday to improve to 7-0 on days he has worn the Thanksgiving-themed briefs to the ballpark.
But with the underwear still in the wash when he left for the ballpark, Francoeur made a more tangible contribution -- two hits including a double, and a run-scoring groundout in the fifth inning to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.
Derek Lowe pitched six strong innings (two runs, seven hits) and left with a lead in a welcomed bounce-back start for the veteran. He was 0-3 with a 12.34 ERA in his past three starts before Tuesday, and got rocked for eight runs (six earned) and 11 hits in three innings Thursday against the Yankees.
He worked out of some early jams. He induced an inning-ending double-play grounder with bases loaded in the second inning, and got hot-hitting Jayson Werth on a flyout with two on to end the third, after Ryan Howard's RBI double.
Lowe was struck in the rear by a sharply-hit grounder in the fifth, and gave up a two-out homer to the next batter, Chase Utley, to put the Phillies up 2-1.
The Braves stranded nine runners in the first five innings, eight of those left on base by Lowe, who came to bat with multiple runners on base and two outs in the second, fourth and fifth, twice with bases loaded.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
