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Thorman, Teixeira deal Brewers crucial loss

Sep 23, 2007 - 5:03 AM By Phil Foley Special to PA SportsTicker

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Mark Teixeira and Scott Thorman dealt a fatal blow the Milwaukee Brewers' playoff hopes.

Teixeira drove in the game-winning run with a single in the 11th inning and Scott Thorman homered with two outs in the 10th to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 win on Saturday.

The devastating loss dropped Milwaukee (79-75) 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs (82-73) in the National League Central. Chicago beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-5, earlier in the day.

"We're 2 1/2 good days away from being in first place," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We'll play it day by day."

"The Cubs can win every game from here on out or lose every game from here on out," Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks said. "All we can do is try to win every game."

Meanwhile, Atlanta (81-74) remained 5 1/2 games behind the New York Mets (89-65) in the NL East after the Mets beat the Florida Marlins. The Braves moved within five games of the San Diego Padres (85-68) in the wild card race.

"We don't celebrate beating Milwaukee," Teixeira said. "We celebrate winning the game. We're still fighting until someone tells us we're mathematically eliminated. We're hoping for a miracle."

Edgar Renteria drew a leadoff walk in the 11th off reliever Seth McClung (0-1) before being replaced by pinch runner Willie Harris. Lefthander Brian Shouse relieved McClung to move the switch-hitting Chipper Jones and Teixeira to the right side of the plate.

The move quickly backfired.

Jones reached when second baseman Rickie Weeks bobbled a double-play ball for an error to put runners at first and second.

"I just missed the ball," Weeks said. "I was trying to get the ball to the shortstop to try to get two."

Teixeira followed by lacing a single down the right field line, plating Harris for the win.

"If I tried to pull (Shouse), I'd probably hit into a double play," Teixeira said. "I just wanted to try to hit the ball to the right side to move the runners. I knew (the game) was over. Either I was going to do it, or (Brian McCann) or (Jeff) Francoeur were going to do it. We were going to win the game."

Joey Devine (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 11th to record his first major league victory.

"It's always nice to get a win," said Devine, who had surrendered two grand slams, a hit and walked two batters with the bases loaded in six previous contests. "I didn't even think about the grand slams that I gave up."

Adding to the improbability of Devine's escape was that the righthander had fallen behind Damian Miller, 3-0, before inducing him to pop out to end the threat.

"I got behind him 3-0 with the bases loaded," Devine said. "I told myself that I've thrown several strikes growing up and playing the game and it would be the right time to throw strike one."

Corey Hart homered in the top of the 10th against Peter Moylan to give Milwaukee a 3-2 edge, and Milwaukee closer Francisco Cordero retired the first two batters before Thorman drilled a first-pitch fastball from Cordero over the right field fence to tie the contest.

"The last time I faced (Cordero) was with the bases loaded and he struck me out," Thorman said. "It was the third time I faced him and I was 0-for-2 against him. My goal was to get a fastball early in the count and get a good swing on it."

Braves starter John Smoltz cruised through the first five frames before J.J. Hardy and the Brewers finally got to Smoltz with two outs in the sixth.

The 40-year-old Smoltz issued a four-pitch walk to Weeks. Hardy followed by breaking up Smoltz's bid for his first career no-hitter, smashing the veteran's 1-2 offering into the left-center field bleachers for his 27th homer of the season.

The homer was the 217th this season by the Brewers, besting the franchise mark set in 1982 - the last season the club made the playoffs.

Smoltz scattered two runs and two hits, walked three and struck out eight in eight sensational frames, but once again was victimized by poor run support.

"I'm at the top of my game," Smoltz said. "I don't know what else to say. We won. It feels better when you win. (But) it's frustrating."

Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo matched Smoltz pitch-for-pitch, allowing two runs and three hits, walking two and striking out seven in seven solid frames before leaving for a pinch hitter in the eighth.

Atlanta got on the board in the first on Chipper Jones' sacrifice fly.

Jones extended the edge to 2-0 by smashing Gallardo's 2-1 offering 396 feet into the left-center field bleachers.