azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Defense delivers backup for Johnson
By Ed Price,
Tribune
ATLANTA——There were no highlight-reel stops Tuesday that kept Randy Johnson's perfect game intact, but there were a handful of key defensive plays.
The closest anyone came to reaching base was with two out in the sixth inning, when Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton hit a chopper toward shortstop. Alex Cintron charged the ball and threw out Hampton, an excellent athlete, by less than a half-step.
“Alex made a tremendous play to get him,” manager Bob Brenly said.
“As soon as I saw the ball, I knew I wanted to get it as fast as I could,” Cintron said. “Go hard to the ball and then throw as fast as I can.”
Other key plays:
- Jesse Garcia pushed a bunt toward first to lead off the first inning, and Johnson failed to cover first. But first baseman Shea Hillenbrand fielded the ball and dove to tag the base before Garcia arrived.
- In the fifth inning, J.D. Drew hit a sharp liner to right field. Danny Bautista briefly lost the ball in the lights but recovered to make a basket catch.
“Let's be honest,” Johnson said. “You have to be lucky.”
By Ed Price,
Tribune
ATLANTA——There were no highlight-reel stops Tuesday that kept Randy Johnson's perfect game intact, but there were a handful of key defensive plays.
The closest anyone came to reaching base was with two out in the sixth inning, when Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton hit a chopper toward shortstop. Alex Cintron charged the ball and threw out Hampton, an excellent athlete, by less than a half-step.
“Alex made a tremendous play to get him,” manager Bob Brenly said.
“As soon as I saw the ball, I knew I wanted to get it as fast as I could,” Cintron said. “Go hard to the ball and then throw as fast as I can.”
Other key plays:
- Jesse Garcia pushed a bunt toward first to lead off the first inning, and Johnson failed to cover first. But first baseman Shea Hillenbrand fielded the ball and dove to tag the base before Garcia arrived.
- In the fifth inning, J.D. Drew hit a sharp liner to right field. Danny Bautista briefly lost the ball in the lights but recovered to make a basket catch.
“Let's be honest,” Johnson said. “You have to be lucky.”
