Renteria Helps Hudson With HR
By David O'Brien
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 11, 2006
Houston - Edgar Renteria had struck out eight times in his last 16 at-bats, but the Braves shortstop wasn't the least bit concerned when he arrived at the ballpark Saturday morning.
"Today's a different game," he said, a few hours before proving his point.
Renteria hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Tim Hudson took a one-hit shutout to the eighth in a 4-2 victory against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, only the third win in 13 games for the Braves.
"I tried to move the runner over, and I moved everybody," said Renteria, smiling in a clubhouse that felt as if a pall had been lifted from the morgue-like atmosphere that prevailed after Friday's loss.
"It's official - winning's way better than losing," cracked third baseman Chipper Jones, who the night before called the Braves' 2-10 skid "by far" the worst stretch since he joined the team in 1993.
"Guys can go home feeling good about themselves, talk nice to their wives, talk to their kids on the phone."
Hudson (6-4) allowed a one-out single in the first inning, then not another hit until the Astros got two runs on two hits in the eighth. Ken Ray pitched a scoreless ninth with one hit and one strikeout for his fourth save in five opportunities, further solidifying his status as the Braves' unofficial new closer.
"Huddy had a great one," Braves manager Bobby Cox said, "and Ken Ray did a really good job. ... To come out and throw a one-hitter for seven innings here is something. It's a real hitters' park. I don't know how Roger [Clemens] had a 1-something ERA here. It seems impossible."
It helped that the Astros, after winning the first two games of the four-game series, played Saturday without stalwarts Craig Biggio (day off), Morgan Ensberg (sore shoulder) and Lance Berkman (birth of a child).
"Not taking anything from the guys who were in their lineup, but without Berkman, Biggio and Ensberg in there it makes it easier," said Hudson, who had four walks and five strikeouts while improving to 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in his past seven starts. "I felt pretty good. I guess you can call it effectively wild."
Hudson has been dominant in three career starts against Houston, including nine scoreless innings vs. Clemens in a 12-inning Braves road win in April 2005. He's 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three starts against the Astros, with just one run and seven hits allowed in 17 innings of two starts at Minute Maid Park.
"I like the roof being closed - it's 72 [degrees] and nice every time you pitch," Hudson said.
He got early offensive support and made it stand up, two rarities for the Braves during the past two weeks.
Wilson Betemit made the most of his first start in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. He started the game with a double and scored two batters later on Jones' punched double down the third-base line.
"Betty's awesome," Hudson said of the former top prospect, whom Cox plans to give more playing time at three positions - shortstop, second base and third base. "He could be starting [for any team]. I've said all along he's the best bench player in all of baseball, and I stand behind that."
In the third inning, Hudson had a leadoff single and Betemit doubled again before Renteria's homer.
"I saw the ball good today," Betemit said. "I'm very happy to help with some hits. Huddy threw a good game, Renteria had a big home run ... if we play like that, we're going to win."
With two runners on and none out, Renteria got ahead in the count 3-and-0 against Astros starter Taylor Buchholz, then got the sign he wanted to see: If it's a good pitch, hit it.
"My eyes got this big," said Renteria, who did what he usually does with fastballs over the plate. He hit it hard the other way, into the Astros' bullpen behind right-center field.
"I let him hit away," Cox said. "The way we've been going, may as well let him."
The Braves began Saturday nine games behind first-place New York in the NL East, the second time since August 1993 that Atlanta was that far out of first place. The first time? That was five weeks ago.
"They're not used to losing in this organization," Ray said. "It's not fun. Definitely a lot more fun when you win. We need to get on a roll."
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