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Bruce's big day helps Reds edge Braves in extra innings

May 31, 2008 - 4:12 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Rookie Jay Bruce quickly is becoming a cult hero in Cincinnati.

Bruce had four hits and scored the winning run on a fielding error by third baseman Chipper Jones in the 11th inning as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Atlanta Braves, 3-2, on Friday.

It was the fifth victory in the last seven games overall for Cincinnati, which has also won 10 of its last 11 at home.

The Reds are 3-1 since calling up the 21-year-old Bruce from Class AAA Louisville, and the rookie outfielder - who was touted as the best prospect in baseball - has not disappointed.

"I'm glad we won and I'm glad I could contribute," Bruce said. "Everybody is doing their part right now."

With his effort Friday, he is hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three RBI and four runs scored.

"Jay's a smart young hitter," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "You don't hit the way that he does just by being gifted. A lot of it is natural ability, but some of it is that he has an idea and a plan when he goes to the plate and what he wants to do against certain pitchers."

Bruce led off the bottom of the 11th with his fourth hit before moving to second on a single by Ken Griffey Jr. Brandon Phillips then hit a sharp grounder that got under the glove of Jones at third before skipping into the outfield, allowing Bruce to score.

"When that inning started, I knew that if Jay got on base, we were gonna win the game," Phillips said.

Bruce started off his day with three hits off 305-game winner Tom Glavine, who allowed two runs, five hits and two walks in six innings.

Despite his youth, Bruce was not intimidated by the veteran.

"I tried to look at Glavine as just a lefthanded pitcher," Bruce said. "I try not to worry about the name on the back of the jersey. To me, he was just another pitcher. Obviously, he is a Hall of Famer, but I was fortunate enough to get some hits."

The Reds' 11th-inning rally came at the expense of Royce Ring (1-1).

Former Brave Kent Mercker (1-0) pitched the top of the 11th for his first win since June 30, 2006.

Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Mark Teixeira, but Cincinnati came right back to take the lead in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double by Bruce and a sacrifice fly by Phillips.

The Braves forged a tie in the seventh, when Greg Norton - who led off the frame with a double - scored on a double-play grounder by Ruben Gotay.

Atlanta's runs came against Edinson Volquez, who also gave up five hits and three walks in six-plus innings. The 24-year-old righthander saw his league-leading ERA increase to 1.46.

"I was happy (with the way I pitched)," Volquez said. "I felt that my arm was strong, but my legs were a little slow tonight."