Braves Derail Subway Series

They have already carved a significant place in baseball history because decade-long success stories can’t be ignored.

Now, the Atlanta Braves are working on their closing chapter.

The Braves earned the right to finish the ‘90s in the World Series after finally clinching the National League pennant--rallying to escape potential embarrassment by defeating the equally resilient New York Mets, 10-9, in 11 innings on Andruw Jones’ bases-loaded walk in Game 6 of the championship series Tuesday night.

Kenny Rogers--the Mets’ eighth pitcher--walked Jones on a full count to force in Gerald Williams with the winning run, ending the 4-hour 25-minute marathon.

Jones was engulfed by teammates after reaching first base, igniting wild celebrations on the field and in the crowd of 52,335--the largest ever at Turner Field.

The Braves captured their fifth pennant during the decade, winning the series, four games to two, after becoming only the second team forced to play a sixth game after taking a 3-0 series lead. They thwarted another stunning comeback attempt by the new-edition Amazin’ Mets, who faced 5-0 and 7-3 deficits in the clincher. Then it was the Braves who had to come back from 8-7 and 9-8 deficits.

Atlanta overcame losing key players because of injuries and illness, remaining focused through the hurdles. The Braves will face the American League champion New York Yankees, who defeated them in six games in the 1996 World Series.

Atlanta catcher Eddie Perez, who batted .500 in the series and drove in two runs Tuesday night, was selected the most valuable player.

The Braves nearly stumbled among the path to their ultimate goal this season--but they found a way again.

“This is just too awesome, too awesome,” Jones said between being showered with champagne during the Braves’ typically wild clubhouse celebration. “We had the lead, then they had the lead, and we just kept going at each other, again and again.

“But even when they got the lead again, everyone still believed we would win. Everybody said just to be patient and we could do it.”

Tom Glavine has been part of the Braves’ run since it began in 1991. Glavine said this championship is probably the Braves’ most significant.

“1991, the first one, that’s going to be awfully hard to top,” said the left-hander, who would have pitched Game 7. “But when you look at everything that’s happened this year, when you look at everything we went through, we always found a way to come through. So for all of that, this one probably is [the most satisfying].”

Chipper Jones agreed.

“Yeah, this one is real sweet,” he said. “We lost lost guys who were tough to have out of any lineup and we kept overcoming things just to get here.”

Jose Hernandez contributed to victory with a two-run, pinch-hit single in the sixth inning that gave the Braves a 7-3 lead.

“I didn’t get a chance to start,” he said. “I was on the bench, and everyone on the bench believed we were going to win. Nobody ever got down. We always knew we could do this, even when the Mets went ahead. I just wanted to go up there and help us.”

The Mets took the lead, 9-8, in the 10th on backup catcher Todd Pratt’s sacrifice fly against Atlanta closer John Rocker. The Braves tied the score, 9-9, on pinch-hitter Ozzie Guillen’s run-scoring single against Met closer Armando Benitez.

That set the stage for the show-ending moment.

Rogers entered in the 11th. The left-hander has struggled throughout his career in the playoffs, being labeled a guy who fails under pressure.

His outing Tuesday won’t help his reputation.

Williams doubled down the left-field line to get things started. He advanced to third on Bret Boone’s sacrifice bunt. Chipper Jones and Brian Jordan--the Nos. 3 and 4 batters, respectively--were walked intentionally.

Enter Andruw Jones.

The gifted player, who made his mark as a rookie in the 1996 series against the Yankees, had struggled during the series, batting only .167 before Tuesday. Jones singled twice and scored three runs, and his biggest contribution occurred because he was patient.

“He [Rogers] always wants to try to make you chase pitches,” Jones said. “I just told myself I was going to go up there and have a good at-bat. I wasn’t going to give in.”

The Braves came under fire from Atlanta batting instructor Don Baylor because of their free-swinging approach in a 4-3, 15-inning loss in Game 5 on Sunday. They were determined to perform better Tuesday.

“We all knew we had to do a better job at the plate to beat these guys,” Jordan said. “This was what it is all about. All the hard work and everything we’ve been through. This is what it’s about.”

The Mets also overcame a lot during their season-changing, heart-racing ride. Tuesday was no exception.

The Braves couldn’t preserve a 5-0 first-inning lead, helping the Mets almost escape from the postseason cliff again.

Banged-up catcher Mike Piazza tied the score, 7-7, in the seventh with a two-run home run to complete a four-run inning against John Smoltz, pitching in relief on two days’ rest because the Braves finally realized tomorrow isn’t guaranteed against this unyielding bunch.

After the former Cy Young Award winner failed, Met rookie Melvin Mora continued his starring role on the postseason stage. His eighth-inning, run-scoring single provided the go-ahead run.

The Braves tied the score, 8-8, in their half of the inning on Brian Hunter’s run-scoring single after Piazza’s second throwing error helped Otis Nixon advance to third.

That was it until the 10th.

“You have to give the Mets a lot of credit,” Chipper Jones said. “They kept coming back at us too. Every time we would try to pull away, they would be right there again.

“It was that type of game the whole series. Fortunately for us, we just had a little more at the end.”