Thor caps off another extra innings thriller.

This game was an old fashioned pitchers dual. The Phillies' Cole Hamels was lights out in his 7 innings of work, striking out 8 Braves and walking only 1. He did give up 4 hits but all were singles and did no harm. He had his change working on a very cold night in Philadelphia and it was seemingly his go-to pitch when he needed a strike out. Tim Hudson was equally as good last night, he also went 7 innings. But unlike Hamels, Hudson did throw one mistake, a mistake that catcher, Carlos Ruiz jumped all over a Hudson slider in the 5th inning with his first home run of the year. That was the only run Hudson surrendered and 1 of only 2 hits against him. When Mike Gonzalez came into to replace Hudson he gave up a walk to Rollins. Rollins then scored on a double down the line by the Flyin Hawaiian, Shane Victorino, but Victorino decided it was a good idea to try and steal third on Brian McCann, and well Shane quickly learned that you don't run on BMAC, McCann gunned him down at third and it proved to cause the Philles another run because two batters later Chase Utley doubled to deep right, but Jeff Francoeur kept up his reputation by gunning down Ryan Howard at the plate.(Frenchy actually hit Kelly Johnson who then threw out Howard.)

The top of the 9th was when it got very interesting especially when Mr. McCann came up to bat. Jeff Francoeur led off the inning with a double into the right-center gap and the came Brian McCann, and before I tell you what he did, I should mention that I actually called it about 10 minutes before he came up to bat. From the Braves Journal:

Jay10
#218. April 4th, 2007, at 8:18 PM.

Way to redeem your self BMac, but you know what would be even better...another two run homer…

And at 8:26 PM, Brian McCann hit a two-run homerun(2) off of Phillies' closer, Tom "Flash" Gordon to tie the game. I know, I know, I just made Miss Cleo my bitch on that one. In the bottom of the 9th, Rafael Soriano came in and sat the Phillies down in order, including striking out Aaron Rowand to end the inning. In the top of the 11th Scott Thorman came up huge with a clutch, game-winning solo homerun off of Ryan Madsen. Thorman has the greatest nickname for a power hitter, "Thor"the God of Thunder. And Bob Wickman came in the 11th to finish off the game striking out Aaron Rowand once again, to end the game this time. I know it's early but this Braves team is pretty fun to watch, look out Philly and New York, we're coming.

WP: Chad Paronto (1-0)
LP: Ryan Madsen (0-2)
SV: Bob Wickman (1)

HR: Brian McCann 1(2), Scott Thorman 1(1)
RBI: Brian McCann 2(4), Scoott Thorman 1 (1)