Renteria Hitting Streak Reaches 21
By Guy Curtright
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
May 06, 2006
New York - A lot more has gone wrong than right for the Braves this season. That may be why shortstop Edgar Renteria's stellar start seems to be lost among the disappointments.
"He's been great since Day 1," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's been even better than I thought he would be."
Acquired from Boston in December after Rafael Furcal signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Renteria has at least one hit in each of his 21 games with the Braves and leads the team with a .352 average.
The streak is the longest in the majors to start a season since Steve Garvey of the Dodgers also hit in 21 games in 1978.
Renteria, who had a double and two walks Saturday against the New York Mets, began the season with hits in the first 12 games, missed nine games because of a strained left ribcage, then has hit in the past nine.
Renteria actually has a 22-game streak dating back to his last game with the Red Sox in 2005. That matches his career high. He had a 22-game hitting streak as a rookie with Florida in 1996.
The previous longest Braves hitting streak to start a season was 16 games by San Francisco manager Felipe Alou to open 1966 - the Braves' first season in Atlanta.
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