MANAGERS: 88 Montreal - Marc Weiss, 06 Atlanta - Terry Priest
GAME 1 - ATL 0, MON 1El Presidente blanks Atlanta 1-0 on 3 hits Dennis Martinez dominated the Braves with a complete game 3 hit shutout. The lone run was scored in the 6th when Horacio Ramirez plunked Todd Jones with an inside fastball. Tim Raines pinch ran for Jones and with 2 outs Tim Wallach singled him home. Martinez shut the Bravos down for the rest of the way, earning his 4th win lowering his ERA to 1.47. Ramirez pitched well for 6 and 2/3 but was tagged with his 2nd loss of the season.
GAME 2 - ATL 12, MON 11 (12 innings)
Improbable Comebacks and Split Personalities as Braves win 12-11 in 12 Innings. The bats for both teams got started early as Montreal led 4-3 going to the home half of the 4th. Casey Candaele led off the bottom of the inning with a bunt single down the 3rd base line. Chipper Jones came up lame after trying to make the play and had to be replaced. At this point Candaele decided to be the runner at 1B and the batter simultaneously. No amount of coaxing by Expos manager Marc Weiss could convince the second basemen to vacate the batters box as Candaele stubbornly tried to be both batter and runner. The game was temporarily postponed while the Montreal trainer found Casey's medication. When the game resumed Candaele did stay in the batters box but would allow 
himself to be pinch run for. The Expos then continued their assault on Atlanta starter Lance Cormier adding 3 runs and taking a 7-3 lead. Another Montreal run in the 6th took the game to the 9th inning leading 8-3. After Jeff Francoeur and pinch hitter Pete Orr went quietly to start the 9th the Braves began an improbable 2-out rally. Giles and Diaz singled and then Wilson Betemit, who took over for the injured Chipper in the 4th, went yard to make the score 8-6. McCann singled, LaRoche walked and Andruw Jones tied the game with a double. Renteria then struck out to end the inning with the score now tied 8-all. After a quiet bottom of the 9th the game went to extra innings. In the 11th Matt Diaz singled and Brian McCann poked his 4th homer of the year to put the visiting Bravos up 10-8. The lead wouldn't last as the Atlanta bullpen and defense broke down. Tim Raines singled with one out and Andres Galarraga moved him to 3rd with a base hit to right that Francoeur booted allowing Big Cat to go to second
. After Brooks struck out Tim Wallach tied again the game with a 2-out single sending the game to the 12th. Renteria lead off the Braves 12th with a triple. Francoeur then attoned for his fielding with a bomb into the LF stands to put the Braves up 12-10. Montreal mounted another comeback when Rex Hudler scored Mitch Foley from 3rd with a sacrifice fly. But this time the rally fell short as Tyler Yates struck out Tim Raines to end the game. Paronto received his 3rd relief win this season and Yates recorded his 1st save. Youmans was saddled with his first loss.
himself to be pinch run for. The Expos then continued their assault on Atlanta starter Lance Cormier adding 3 runs and taking a 7-3 lead. Another Montreal run in the 6th took the game to the 9th inning leading 8-3. After Jeff Francoeur and pinch hitter Pete Orr went quietly to start the 9th the Braves began an improbable 2-out rally. Giles and Diaz singled and then Wilson Betemit, who took over for the injured Chipper in the 4th, went yard to make the score 8-6. McCann singled, LaRoche walked and Andruw Jones tied the game with a double. Renteria then struck out to end the inning with the score now tied 8-all. After a quiet bottom of the 9th the game went to extra innings. In the 11th Matt Diaz singled and Brian McCann poked his 4th homer of the year to put the visiting Bravos up 10-8. The lead wouldn't last as the Atlanta bullpen and defense broke down. Tim Raines singled with one out and Andres Galarraga moved him to 3rd with a base hit to right that Francoeur booted allowing Big Cat to go to second
. After Brooks struck out Tim Wallach tied again the game with a 2-out single sending the game to the 12th. Renteria lead off the Braves 12th with a triple. Francoeur then attoned for his fielding with a bomb into the LF stands to put the Braves up 12-10. Montreal mounted another comeback when Rex Hudler scored Mitch Foley from 3rd with a sacrifice fly. But this time the rally fell short as Tyler Yates struck out Tim Raines to end the game. Paronto received his 3rd relief win this season and Yates recorded his 1st save. Youmans was saddled with his first loss.
GAME 3 - MON 4, ATL 5Braves Hold On for 5-4 Win. The series finale moved to Atlanta with John Dopson of the Expos squaring off against John Thomson of the Braves. Hubie Brooks put the visitors out in front with a solo HR in the 2nd. The Braves scored 3 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th, taking a 5-1 lead into the 8th. Once again the fiesty Montreal club fought back, scoring 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to make the score 5-4. The Braves collectively exhaled as Franceour gloved Tim Raines line drive to end the game. Dopson took his 1st loss of the season, Thomson got his 2nd win and Bob Wickman recorded his 6th save.
TURNING POINT: The series turned around with 2 out in the 9th of game 2 with the Braves 5-run comeback.
SERIES MVP: Casey Candaele should split the series MVP award with himself but Jeff Francoeur gets the honors with 4 for 9 batting, 4 RBIs, a HR and the game winning RBI in both Braves victories. --submitted by Terry Priest--
SERIES MVP: Casey Candaele should split the series MVP award with himself but Jeff Francoeur gets the honors with 4 for 9 batting, 4 RBIs, a HR and the game winning RBI in both Braves victories. --submitted by Terry Priest--
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