The Braves’ John Thomson dominated the Stros’ hitters in leading the Braves to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night at the Juice Box.
Thomson threw just 79 pitches in seven innings and gave up two runs on only four singles. Meanwhile, the Stros’ Pete Munro got raked for eight hits and four runs in four and a third innings by a Braves team that is not exactly a hitting juggernaut, either.
Actually, this was one of those games that was not as close as the final score indicates. The Braves were leading comfortably 5-2 with two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the ninth with Smoltz closing when Bags whacked a completely unexpected two run tater to make the score 5-4. Poor Ensberg had to follow Bags to the plate and face a very irritated Smoltz, who proceeded to strike Ensberg out on three quite fast pitches. Game, set, match.
It’s a duel of lefties in the rubber game on Thursday night as Darren Oliver goes for the Stros against ex-Stro Mike Hampton. The Virginia Expos come to town on Friday for the weekend series.