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Escobar's single in 10th seals series win for Braves

Aug 5, 2007 - 10:46 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Rookie Yunel Escobar continued to do his most damage with runners on.

Escobar delivered the game-winning single with one out in the 10th inning as the Atlanta Braves posted a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the rubber game of a weekend series on Sunday.

With runners at first and second, Escobar lined an 0-2 delivery from Taylor Buchholz (5-4) into left field to score Jeff Francoeur.

The hit continued a stellar season for the 24-year-old with runners on base. In 30 at-bats with runners in scoring position, Escobar is hitting .500. It was the second RBI of the game for the youngster, who also singled home a run in the fourth to tie the score at 1-1.

"I am not afraid to face a pitcher with two strikes," Escobar said through an interpreter. "It was a fastball. I knew we were in extra innings. I was willing to do whatever it takes."

"He's as clutch a young player as I've ever seen," teammate Matt Diaz said. "He wants the bat in his hands."

Usually the righthanded part of a platoon with Kelly Johnson at second base, Escobar has been called upon to play shortstop while the three-time All-Star Edgar Renteria is on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle.

"He's been dynamite all year long," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "In any situation. He's as tough an out as they come. He's like Edgar in that respect. We have a great replacement."

Atlanta righthander Oscar Villarreal (2-1) picked up the win, striking out one in a perfect top of the 10th.

It was just the fourth win in the 11 extra-inning games for the Braves, who closed within four games of the New York Mets in the National League East. Atlanta travels to New York for a three-game set starting on Tuesday before travelling to Philadelphia next weekend.

"(These series are) very big," Braves starter Chuck James said. "This is going to be the week to make or break us."

Managing just one hit in his first nine at-bats over the first two games of the series, Chipper Jones broke out with three hits, including a home run, on Sunday.

The veteran third baseman scored Atlanta's first run of the game in the fourth after leading off with a single and supplied a 3-2 edge in the fifth with a two-run homer - his 18th of the season.

"I know when something's not working (with my stroke), whenever I am behind the fastball and ahead on the offspeed stuff," said Jones, who took extra batting practice in the indoor batting cage after Saturday's 6-4 victory. "I've got to go into it and keep swinging. It was a little better today, but not great."

James pitched well before wilting in the 94-degree heat in the sixth.

The lefthander opened the frame by walking Jamey Carroll ahead of a single by Matt Holliday. Todd Helton, who had just eight hits in his last 49 at-bats, then singled up the middle, scoring Carroll for a 3-3 tie and chasing James.

Tyler Yates came on in relief, but could not contain the hot bat of Garrett Atkins, who had drove in 18 runs in his previous 11 games before smashing an RBI double off the left field wall, plating Holliday for a 4-3 lead.

But after loading the bases on an intentional walk to Ryan Spilborghs, Yates wiggled out of the jam, striking out Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta and inducing Aaron Cook to fly out to right field to end the frame.

Atlanta battled back in the bottom of the frame. Corky Miller drove in Diaz with his first double in five years to tie the game and Willie Harris added a bloop down the right field line that turned into a two-bagger that gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.

Newly acquired Octavio Dotel, who gave up a grand slam on Saturday, was ineffective once again for Atlanta, surrendering an RBI single to Helton in the seventh to knot the game at 5-5.

After blowing just five saves in 30 opportunities from April to June, the shaky Braves bullpen has converted on just four of 10 save chances since July 1.

In the ninth, Jones worked a two-out walk against Jorge Julio. Even though Mark Teixeira, who had homered in three of his first four games with the Atlanta after being acquired from the Texas Rangers on the trade deadline, was at the plate, Jones was caught trying to steal second to forced extra frames.

James finished with four runs and six hits allowed in five-plus frames. He also walked three and struck out two.

Cook, who was 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA over his last three starts for Colorado, failed in his bid to record his ninth victory. The righthander allowed five runs - three earned - and 10 hits in 5 1/3 frames

Spilborghs homered twice for the Rockies, including a shot in the fifth for a 2-1 lead. He also stole a base for Colorado, which lost for just the third time in its last eight games.

"This was a series we should have won," said Spilborghs, who recorded his second career multi-homer game. "There were a lot of opportunities today. It was not a good day."