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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ATLANTA (AP) -- Andres Galarraga isn't just back, he's flashing his power of old.
And Kerry Ligtenberg is back, too, getting his first save in more than a year.
After homering on opening day in his return from a one-year
layoff, Galarraga hit a go-ahead, three-run homer Wednesday night
that rallied the Atlanta Braves past the Colorado Rockies 9-6.
"As soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone," Galarraga said of
his sixth-inning drive into the left-field stands that put Atlanta
ahead 7-6 .
"I'm just enjoying the moment. I'm not surprised about the way
I'm hitting right now. I was surprised at how I hit the ball hard
in spring training. Right now, I feel confident."
Galarraga, who missed last season for cancer treatment, played for the Colorado from 1993-97 before signing with Atlanta as a free agent.
"He went from a Rockies saver to a Rockies killer in a couple
of years," said Colorado's Todd Helton, who replaced Galarraga at first base.
Ligtenberg, who missed all of last season because of elbow
surgery, pitched in a game that counted for the first time since a
playoff appearance against San Diego on Oct. 12, 1998. He pitched a
perfect ninth for his first save since Sept. 22, 1998 against
Florida, the last of his 30 saves as a rookie.
"I've still got a long way to go, but this is a good first
step," he said. "I was a little nervous because this was a real
game, not spring training. With a three-run lead, I just threw
fastballs."
The Braves are counting on Ligtenberg to be their closer, at
least until John Rocker's suspension ends April 18.
Galarraga was 2-for-3 with a walk and is 3-for-9 with five RBI
thus far. He also was hit by a pitch for the third straight game.
"I'm trying to be nice," Galarraga said. "But if they
continue to pitch me inside, I'm going to have to say something."
Atlanta trailed 6-2 in the fifth before Quilvio Veras' RBI
grounder and a run-scoring throwing error shortstop Neifi Perez on
Reggie Sanders' grounder. Perez also booted Andruw Jones' two-out
grounder in the eighth for an error that allowed two more runs.
With the Braves down 6-4, Galarraga followed sixth-inning
singles by Quilvio Veras and Reggie Sanders with a drive off Manny
Aybar (0-1) that landed in the left-field seats.
The crowd of 30,008 didn't stop cheering until the Big Cat came
out of the dugout for a curtain call.
Bruce Chen (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Braves starter Kevin Millwood, 18-7 last season as Atlanta won its eighth straight division title, allowed six runs -- five earned
-- and eight hits in four innings.
Helton hit a two-run homer in the first, and the Rockies made it
4-2 in the second when Jones, presented his second consecutive Gold
Glove trophy prior to the game, misjudged Tom Goodwin's drive to
center into a two-run inside-the-park home run.
Jones raced back to the warning track and attempted a Willie
Mays-like basket catch with his back to the plate. But the ball hit
off Jones' glove, and the speedy Goodwin scored easily as Jones
fell into the wall and couldn't retrieve the ball.
When asked if he should have caught the ball, Jones nodded yes.
"I thought I had it. I had a glove on it."
Javy Lopez, who went 3-for-4, had an RBI single in the first,
and Brian Bohanon walked Trenidad Hubbard with the bases loaded.
Colorado took a 6-2 lead in the fourth on Mike Lansing's run-scoring, double-play grounder and an error by shortstop Walt
Weiss.
Colorado right fielder Darren Bragg saved two runs in the fifth when he made a diving over-the-shoulder grab in right center of a
drive by Weiss with runners at second and third and two outs.
Bohanon gave up four runs -- three earned -- five hits and four
walks in four innings.
"Anytime you get six runs, you expect to win," he said. "I pretty much stunk it up."
Game notes
Atlanta OF Brian Jordan missed his second straight game because of a strained right rib cage. ... Galarraga was hit a career-high 25 times in 1998 and has been plunked 140 times
overall. ... Goodwin's inside-the-park homer was the sixth in
Colorado history -- the first on the road and the first since Larry
Walker last May 17 against Cincinnati. ... In pregame ceremonies,
Atlanta's Chipper Jones picked up his 1999 NL MVP award as well as a Silver Bat trophy. Greg Maddux got his 10th consecutive Gold Glove. ... Walker, the two-time defending NL batting champion,
missed his second straight game because of a strained right calf.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Colorado Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
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