Braves Snatch Victory From the Jaws Of Defeat In Win Over Red Sox

Brooks Conrad capped the Braves' comeback with a game-winning double in the bottom of the tenth to seal a 4-3 comeback victory for the Braves.

The day started off like some overly-hyped pitching duels would. Kenshin Kawakami and Daisuke Matsuzaka traded zeroes for the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Braves scored two runs, aided by a rare error from Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox knotted the score quickly, thanks to a two-run shot by Rocco Baldelli off of Kawakami. Dustin Pedroia's RBI double in the seventh off of reliever Manny Acosta gave the Red Sox the lead.

The Braves tied the game in the ninth when Greg Norton doubled to lead off the inning and Martin Prado singled him home with two out. After Rafael Cruz held the Sox scoreless, third baseman Van Pope lead off the bottom of the inning with a double. After David Ross made an out, Brooks Conrad doubled home Pope to end the game.

Kawakami pitched six innings and allowed four hits and two runs. He walked two batters and struck out four. Matsuzaka allowed two hits, two runs and three walks in five innings; he also struck out two batters.

Enrique Gonzalez pitched three scoreless innings out of the pen for the Red Sox. Eric O'Flaherty (1 1/3 innings) and Mike Gonzalez (1 inning) recorded their seven outs out of the pen with strikeouts.

W - Rafael Cruz (1-0)
L - Bryson Cox (0-1)
HR - Rocco Baldelli (2)