The Associated Press
CINCINNATI Ÿ The Atlanta Braves are known for pitching. Cincinnati is considered a baseball town. Mike Devereaux is pegged as a backup.
Reputations certainly are going to change after the first game of the NL playoffs.
The Braves came up with a record-setting defense and another hero off the bench last night to beat the Reds 2-1 in 11 innings and turn a few heads. Devereaux singled home the winning run and Atlanta turned its championship series record fifth double play to seal another stunning playoff comeback.
That's three late-inning playoff wins this year alone for the Braves, who made them a habit while making it to the World Series twice in the last four years.
''We've been in some pretty gut-wrenching situations, particularly over the postseason,'' Braves starter Tom Glavine said. ''We don't do anything easy. Every game is nip-and-tuck and comes down to the last inning. The fact that we've been through it so many times certainly has to settle the nerves a little, knowing we've done it before and can do it again.''
Atlanta didn't do anything for the first eight innings, coming up as empty as the Riverfront Stadium seats. Only 36,762 fans Ÿ about 20,000 short of capacity Ÿ turned out on a clear, 69-degree night.