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Nady's three-run blast gives Pirates wild win

Apr 1, 2008 - 5:15 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Xavier Nady stole the show in Tom Glavine's return to the Atlanta Braves.

Nady homered twice, including a three-run blast in the 12th inning, and drove in four runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 12-11 victory over the Braves in Atlanta's home opener on Monday.

The 29-year-old Nady blasted his second homer of the game on a 2-0 offering from Braves reliever Blaine Boyer (0-1) into the right field bleachers in the 12th inning to give the Pirates a three-run lead. It was the fourth career multi-homer game for Nady, who last smacked two in a game on June 27, 2007 at Florida.

"I hit it well," Nady said. "I didn't know (if it was out). Obviously, I was hoping to put a ball in play to drive Nate (McLouth) in. Fortunately, I got enough."

Atlanta rallied for two runs in the bottom of the frame. After Jeff Francoeur connected with a two-out solo homer, Mark Kotsay followed with a double and Matt Diaz plated Kotsay with a single before Franquelis Osoria (1-0) retired pinch hitter Corky Miller to record his first major league win.

"It is probably the craziest game that I've ever been a part of," Atlanta catcher Brian McCann said. "Hopefully, we can get on the right track on Wednesday."

The win was the first for new Pirates manager John Russell, who was 666-667 in 10 seasons as a minor league skipper.

"I'm happy that (Russell) got his first win," Nady said. "It wasn't how it was supposed to be drawn up, but it worked."

The Pirates were in position to pick up the win on Nady's first homer, which broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth.

Five batters later, McLouth extended the edge to 8-4 with a three-run homer, sending many of the Braves faithful scattering for the exits.

But then the Pirates came out and showed why they have not had a winning season since the 1992 campaign.

Atlanta rallied for five runs in the bottom of the ninth thanks to the wildness of the Pittsburgh relievers and a suspect defensive play.

Damaso Marte issued free passes to Kotsay and pinch hitter Ruben Gotay, sandwiched around a strikeout. Closer Matt Capps came in to relieve Marte but was not much better, forcing in a run with walks to Martin Prado and Yunel Escobar before Chipper Jones plated two runs with a single to make it 9-7.

After Capps retired Mark Teixeira on a flyout, Brian McCann lofted what appeared to be a game-ending flyout to left field.

But Pirates left fielder Jason Bay somehow managed to overrun the ball and McLouth failed to back him up as the ball dropped between them in left-center field, plating Escobar and a hustling Jones from first base to knot the contest at 9-9.

"I thought (Bay) was going to catch it and he thought that I was going to catch it," McLouth said. "It happened at the worst possible situation. ... It was deflating, no question."

While the comeback was inspired, the Pirates' win ultimately took away from what should have been a momentous occasion for Glavine, who was returning to the franchise with which he began his career.

The Hall of Fame lock from Concord, Massachusetts, who had given Braves fans so many memories over his 16 seasons in Atlanta - including notching the victory in its lone World Series in 1995.

Gone were the familiar boos during the pregame introductions that greeted the future Hall of Famer each time he appeared here during his five-year tenure with the Mets. In its place was the largest of cheers of all of the Atlanta regulars, including long-time teammates John Smoltz and Chipper Jones.

"It's hard to hear it in the bullpen when you're warming up," Glavine said of the ovation. "It seemed like it was one of the better ones. Hopefully, I continue to pitch good and it continues that way."

While it was not the prettiest of returns for the 42-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner, it was eons ahead of his last outing, when he helped put the exclamation point on the Mets' historic collapse by allowing seven runs and five hits in one-third of an inning in the final game of the 2007 season.

The lefthander, who uncharacteristically tossed first-pitch strikes to just five of the 22 batters that he faced, needed 97 pitches in five innings, allowing two runs - one earned - and seven hits while striking out three and walking two.

"It was good," Glavine said. "I was a little anxious in the first inning. After that I felt pretty comfortable. I felt like I settled in pretty well."

However, Glavine was saddled with a no-decision after another Atlanta bullpen implosion.

"It's always good to see Tommy on your side," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I'm just sad we couldn't hold the lead for him."

It was the second time in as many nights that the Braves pen could not seize the momentum after the offense got the club back into it.

On Sunday, Atlanta clawed back to tie its opener against Washington, 2-2, but reliever Pete Moylan surrendered a walk-off homer to Ryan Zimmerman for the loss.