Brooks Conrad's homer takes Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 triumph over Pittsburgh Pirates: MLB Update
Brooks Conrad launched his first homer of the season to take the Atlanta Braves into 4-2 victory third-straight time against the Pittsburgh Pirates, at the PNC Park, on Wednesday, May 25.
The game was tied at 2-2 in the top of the eleventh inning when the pinch-hitter, Brooks, entered the plate for his first at-bat and launched a 405-feet long two-run-homer to earn his team their 28th triumph of the season. Before touching this homer, the
31-year-old slugger had made three RBIs with 0.130 batting averages. However, this hit took him to 0.167.
"It's just so much fun, especially in the pinch-hit role, getting up there with the game on the line and you've got a chance to drive in the winning run for your team," Conrad said.
As the Braves had achieved 4-2 lead, closer, Craig Kimbrel, acted as he has always been doing since the start of the season. Kimbrel threw perfect inning to close the game at 4-2 and won his 14th win of the season.
The Braves achieved an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Chipper Jones hit an RBI single off the Pirates' starter, James McDonald. However, the Pirates’ Steve Pearce, hitting an RBI single off the Braves’ starter Mike Minor, tied the game in the third
inning.
As Eric Hinske has taken the game back into the Braves’ side with a one-run homer in the sixth inning, Pearce blistered a striking homer off the Pirates reliever Eric O’Flaherty in the seventh inning to it at 2-all.
In the ninth inning, Pearce has a chance to nip the Pirates’ two-game losing streak but he failed to avail the opportunity. Pedro Ciriaco was on third and Ronny Cedeno was on second base when Pearce came to bat drove in to third base for double play.
"I rolled over on a pitch," Pearce said. "It was frustrating. We were all set up to win the game and I did the last thing you would want to do in that situation. The tough part is that I'd been swinging the bat well all day, but I couldn't come through when
I needed to the most."
Minor threw five and 2/3 innings, struck-out five batters, allowed seven hits and two walks in his third start of the season. Relievers Scott Proctor, Venters, George Sherrill, and closer Craig Kimbrel all did not allow the Pirates any run except O'Flaherty
who gave a homer to Peace.
On the other hand, McDonald yielded two runs over six innings, but relievers, tossed scoreless innings, to save him from a loss. However, the closer Jeff Karstens despite tossing strong two innings gave away a defeat-earning homer.
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