Pinch Them: Bench Finally Gets a Hit

Greg Colbrunn’s two-run single in Game 2 ended a long dry spell for Atlanta’s pinch-hitters. They were 0 for 22 in last fall’s postseason games.

A hit by Mike Devereaux in Game 3 of the 1995 World Series was the last success by a Brave off the bench.

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Colbrunn is batting .529 in the pinch (nine for 17) since the Braves acquired him in August.

“It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do in baseball,” said Colbrunn, who wants to be a starter again, as he was for two seasons with the Florida Marlins.

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Derek Bell, hitless, might not dread facing John Smoltz today.

He is only eight for 40 (.200) against Smoltz, but half of those hits were home runs.

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Bell, on his and other Astros’ woes:

“I’m not shocked. Not with the pitching staff they have. How can you be shocked?”

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They call Houston’s division the “NL Comedy Central.”

But the last time a National League West team won a postseason game was in the 1995 division series, when the Colorado Rockies managed to win one of four games against the Braves. The West is 0-10 since that victory.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

(Braves lead series, 2-0)

* Game 1: Braves 2, Astros 1

* Game 2: Braves 13, Astros 3

* Game 3: Today at Houston, 1 p.m.

* Game 4: Saturday at Houston, 10 a.m.*

* Game 5: Sunday at Houston, 10 a.m.*

* If necessary

TONIGHT’S GAME

ATLANTA’S JOHN SMOLTZ (15-12, 3.02 ERA) vs. HOUSTON’S SHANE REYNOLDS (9-10, 4.23 ERA)

Astrodome, 1 p.m.

TV--ESPN

* Update--A little past high noon in Texas: It’s the 1996 Cy Young Award winner against a guy with a losing record. Smoltz was 1-2 against Houston this season, but both losses came in April. His ERA is 3.02; Reynolds’ is 4.23. The Braves have now won 19 more games than the Astros this season. If Houston wins, it expects to ask Darryl Kile to pitch Game 4, on three days’ rest.