Blasts by Green, Drew come to rescue in ninth

By DAVID O'BRIEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 6/2/04

If he doesn't look out, Nick Green just might become a local folk hero in his first month in the major leagues.

The new favorite son of Duluth hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh inning Monday, then topped that by hitting a game-tying three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning Tuesday night against Montreal.

On the next pitch from Expos reliever Rocky Biddle, J.D. Drew hit a game-ending homer, capping one of the most improbable and stirring comebacks in recent Braves history, for a 7-6 victory at Turner Field that took some of the sting from seeing Chipper Jones leave with another hamstring injury.

Jones is listed as day-to-day and indicated he expects to miss at least a few games.

In the interim, the Braves will keep trying to find a way to win, as they've done in each of the first two games of the series, in large part because of the 25-year-old backup infielder whose stint with the team was only supposed to last a few days.

"Yesterday was fun, and today was fun too," said Green, who had to be pushed by teammates into doing his first curtain call after Monday's homer, stepping halfway up the dugout steps to wave at the adoring crowd.

He didn't have to worry about a curtain call Tuesday, after the second homer of his career.

"We didn't have time to do one," he said, smiling. "I looked up and Johnny [Estrada] was jumping over the fence to go on the field."

Green joined the rest of the Braves who streamed on the field to celebrate with Drew when he touched home plate, as many of those who stuck around in a small crowd of 20,271 were jumping with joy in the stands.

"I stepped up the plate not wanting to have to go back out there and run around anymore," Drew said, laughing. "I pretty much had my mind made up to swing at the first pitch about as hard as I could. I squared it up and put the barrel on it.

"This was huge for us. An opportunity to come up in the ninth inning and to win a ballgame like that, it doesn't come along very often."

Both home runs came off Biddle, who had a 13.50 ERA in his previous nine relief appearances, but wasn't charged with any earned runs Tuesday. All were unearned after the inning began with Mark DeRosa reaching on an error against third baseman Tony Batista, only the 21st error for the best fielding team in the majors.

Mike Hessman struck out before Eli Marrero hit a bloop to right that fell between second baseman Jose Vidro and two outfielders. With runners at first and second, Rafael Furcal popped out.

But then up stepped the mighty Green,who has been with the Braves since May 14. He's filling in for Marcus Giles now, but when Giles returns they'll be a spot for him somewhere if he keeps this up.

Green hit a 1-1 pitch to the left-field seats, sending a jolt of electricity through the crowd and through the Braves' dugout.

"We caught a break with DeRosa's ball and then Marrero's ball, with the way they fell in," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "It didn't shock me that Nicky hit one out, and I told [bench coach] Pat Corrales, 'If Nicky hits it out, J.D. will follow and we'll end up winning this crazy game.' That's exactly what happened. It's hard to explain a game like that."

It seems like every few days, the Braves are dealt another injury as a test to see how much they can withstand before coming unglued. So far, they haven't.

Jones felt a twinge in his troublesome right hamstring when he went after Nick Johnson's double off the wall in the second inning, then it worsened when he ran to first in the fourth inning, forcing him from the game.

It's the same hamstring he pulled on April 18, an injury that landed the left fielder on the disabled list and kept him out of the lineup for nearly three weeks. He was hit by a pitch on the same leg Saturday in Philadelphia, and may have been favoring it.

"It didn't tear, but it concerns me," Jones said. "It's frustrating. You can't get any consistency when you're floating in and out of the lineup. You can't help these guys out. It was the hamstring first, then the groin, then I was hit by a pitch, now it's the hamstring again. I want to put my fist through a wall."