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Johnson, Braves hope to avenge heartbreaking loss

Jun 7, 2008 - 1:39 PM Philadelphia (37-26) at Atlanta (32-30), 7:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Trying to bounce back from a costly error, Kelly Johnson tries to help the Atlanta Braves rebound from a crushing defeat when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

An error by the second baseman on Friday allowed the tying run to score in the ninth inning, and Shane Victorino delivered an RBI triple in the 10th as the Phillies rallied for a 4-3 triumph over the Braves.

With two on and two outs in the ninth, Chris Coste popped up the first pitch he saw from Blaine Boyer for what appeared to be the final out. Johnson settled under the ball near the line in shallow right field for what should have been the game-ending catch, but the ball popped out of the palm of Johnson's glove, allowing pinch runner Eric Bruntlett to score the tying run from second base.

"It just didn't stick," Johnson said. "It hit the palm. It's probably the one part (of the glove) where it's going to pop up. It's just one of those things that did happen. It's not supposed to happen. It's probably the worst feeling that somebody can feel while on the baseball field."

"I've never seen him drop a pop-up, that I recall," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Johnson. "We're all allowed one."

Atlanta will send lefthander JoJo Reyes (2-3, 4.78 ERA) to the mound. The 23-year-old Reyes is hoping to avoid losing his third straight decisions.

Philadelphia will counter with red-hot Kyle Kendrick (5-2, 4.00), who is looking to win his fifth consecutive decision. The 23-year-old righthander allowed four runs and five hits over 5 1/3 frames in Monday's 5-4 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds.