Notes: Renteria Keeps Rakin'
Shortstop climbing the ranks of all-time Atlanta hit streaks
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
May 07, 2006
ATLANTA -- When they acquired Edgar Renteria in December, the Braves truly believed they were getting one of the game's best shortstops. So far, he's given no reason to dispute that belief.
With his first-inning single off Jose Lima in Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Mets at Shea Stadium, Renteria established a career-best 23-game hitting streak. He's recorded a hit in each of the 22 games he's played this year and had one in his final game with the Red Sox last year.
"He's one of the best pure hitters I've ever seen," Braves catcher Brian McCann said. "He can handle the bat better than anybody. He's a professional hitter."
When Jimmy Rollins ended last season with a 36-game hitting streak, the Elias Sports Bureau determined that they would carry streaks into the following season.
Renteria, whose 23-game hitting streak leads the Majors, has proven to be the catalyst the Braves need in the second spot of their lineup. Entering Sunday, the Braves had averaged 5.3 runs in the 21 games he had played. During the 10 games he missed in April with a strained left rib cage, they averaged just 2.9 runs per game.
"He gives you a good at-bat every time he goes up there," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He really makes the pitchers work."
Before Renteria, the Atlanta record for a hitting streak to begin the season was held by Felipe Alou, who hit safely in each of the first 16 games of the 1966 season. According to Elias, Renteria is the first Major League player since Detroit's Ron Leflore (1976) to hit safely in his first 22 games.
The longest hitting streak in Atlanta Braves history is 31 games, established by Rico Carty in 1970. Renteria's previous long streak came when he hit safely in 22 consecutive games during his 1996 rookie season with the Marlins.
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