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Nady carries Pirates to wild win over Braves

Tue 1st, April 2008

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Xavier Nady homered twice, including a three- run shot in the 12th inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates overcame an incredible collapse in the ninth before scoring a season-opening 12-11 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Nate McLouth added a three-run homer for Pittsburgh, which blew a five-run lead in the ninth. Atlanta actually tied the game at 9-9 in the ninth when Brian McCann's two-out routine fly ball fell in between left fielder Jason Bay and McLouth in center, allowing two runs to score.

Nady, who finished 4-for-7 with four RBI and four runs scored, belted his homer off Blaine Boyer (0-1) in the 12th, and the Pirates survived despite the Braves getting the potential tying run on base.

"It's nice to win," Nady said. "Obviously in the ninth inning they put a little comeback together. I think it shows a lot of character of this team to stay in the game and obviously come back and try to pull out a W."

McLouth had three hits, four RBI, and Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Doumit each tallied three hits for the Pirates.

McCann and Jeff Francoeur homered for the Braves, who suffered their second straight tough one-run loss. They were beaten Sunday night in Washington on a Ryan Zimmerman two-out homer in the ninth inning.

Overshadowed was the homecoming of two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine, who returned to the Braves after spending five years with the Mets. The 42- year-old Glavine, who pitched for the Braves from 1987-2002, was lifted after allowing seven hits and two runs -- one earned -- over five innings.

"I was a little anxious the first inning, but after that I felt pretty comfortable, felt like I settled in pretty well," Glavine said. "It was good to get back out there."

McCann, Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones each drove in three runs for Atlanta.

Franquelis Osoria (1-0) threw the final three innings to pick up his first major league win in the debut of new Pirates manager John Russell.

Ian Snell started for the Pirates and was charged with seven hits and four runs over six innings.

Jose Bautista's RBI groundout scored Nady in the sixth to get the Pirates within 4-3, and Pittsburgh tied the game in the next inning thanks to a throwing error from Escobar.

Nady then homered to right off Manny Acosta leading off the eighth and later in the frame McLouth connected off Tyler Yates over the wall in right for an 8-4 advantage.

Nady scored on a sacrifice bunt from Bautista in the ninth, but it all fell apart for Pittsburgh in the bottom half.

Mark Kotsay, Atlanta's new center fielder replacing Andruw Jones, was walked by Damaso Marte to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Ruben Gotay walked and Matt Capps then issued free passes to Martin Prado and Escobar to force in a run. Jones then singled to right field to make it a one-run game, and an out later the Braves tied it in unbelievable fashion.

In the 12th, McLouth singled, and an out later Bay walked. With two down, Nady laced a 2-0 offering over the wall in right.

"I got ahead in the count and was obviously just looking for a hit to score Nate, or to find something I could drive," Nady said. "I was fortunate enough to get a decent pitch."

Francoeur homered with two down in the bottom half, Kotsay doubled and scored on a Matt Diaz single. Pinch-hitter Corky Miller finally sent a fly ball to McLouth in center to end the 4-hour, 28-minute contest.

"There were a lot of things, you look at that game and it was ugly," Glavine said. "There were also things in that game that you were proud of. I think we showed a lot of character coming back a couple of times, showed what we're capable of doing. If you're going to beat us, we're going to battle to the last out."

An error on Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson led to the Pirates' first run, in the second inning, but Atlanta struck back in the third thanks to a two-run triple by Escobar and an RBI groundout from Jones.

McLouth singled in Bautista in the fourth, but McCann made it 4-2 with a lead- off homer in the bottom of the inning.

Game Notes

Despite off-the-field trouble, infielder Scott Spiezio is getting another chance at extending his major league career, as the Braves signed the veteran to a minor league contract on Monday. On February 27, the Cardinals released Spiezio after word circulated that a warrant was issued for his arrest. The charges stemmed from an automobile accident on December 30...Johnson left the game with a right knee strain and is listed as day-to-day...Longtime Braves catcher Javy Lopez, who recently retired, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

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