Johnson hits pinch-hit grand slam as Braves rout 11-5
ATLANTA (AP) - Kelly Johnson's pinch-hit grand slam broke open a
close game and the Atlanta Braves overcame a rare call reversal by
the umpires and beat the New York Mets 11-5 today.
Johnson, the regular second baseman, didn't start for the third
straight game due to his sore right knee. With two outs in the
seventh and the Braves leading 5-3, Johnson pulled a 3-2 pitch from
Jorge Sosa into the right-field seats for his second career grand
slam.
Tim Hudson (1-0) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings
to beat John Maine (0-1), who allowed four runs in four innings.
Jeff Francoeur had three hits, including a two-run double off
Nelson Figueroa in the eighth, and drove in three runs. Chipper
Jones also had three hits for Atlanta.
The Braves led 4-1 in the fifth when the umpires initially ruled
Jose Reyes hit into an inning-ending fly ball double play with the
bases loaded. Replays showed the ball bounced before center fielder
Mark Kotsay dove and trapped it.
Mets manager Willie Randolph argued the call. With Braves
players already off the field, the umpires huddled and eventually
credited Reyes with a run-scoring single.
On the play, baserunner Angel Pagan rounded third and ran past
Ryan Church, who stayed near the third-base bag when he saw third
base umpire Bruce Dreckman make the initial out call.
Braves manager Bobby Cox subsequently argued that Pagan should
be called out, but the umpires decided to award each runner one
base.
The Mets added another run in the inning on Luis Castillo's
groundout, cutting the lead to 4-3 before David Wright grounded out
to end the inning.
Francoeur and Matt Diaz had run-scoring singles off Maine in
Atlanta's two-run third inning.
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