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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ATLANTA (AP) -- John Rocker pushed opened the bullpen door and
sprinted to the mound, just like old times. The crowd at Turner
Field rose in a standing ovation, as if all was forgiven.
It was a triumphant return for the Atlanta Braves reliever who
offended immigrants, gays and minorities.
|  | | Atlanta Braves fans showed support for their controversial closer on his return to the game Tuesday. |
Rocker came back to baseball with a scoreless ninth inning
Tuesday night and Brian Hunter came through with a pinch-hit homer
in the 12th on his way back to the minors, giving the Braves a 4-3
victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
"Rocker's back," Atlanta outfielder Brian Jordan said.
"Hopefully, things will quiet down a little bit and we can get
back to baseball."
Rocker, suspended for the first two weeks of the season, charged
from the bullpen with his trademark sprint in the ninth of a 3-3
game.
Nearly everyone in the crowd of 34,903 rose to their feet on a
cool, windy night, welcoming back the closer who had 38 saves for
the NL champions a year ago before setting off a national
controversy with his infamous magazine interview.
Rocker was cheered when he pitched in an exhibition game at
Turner Field a couple of days before Opening Day, but the reaction
Tuesday night caught even his teammates off guard.
"I was a little surprised," Chipper Jones said. "I didn't
really think it would be quite to that extent. Then again, nothing
surprises me anymore."
There were no organized protests at the park and many held up
signs in support, including "Rocker for President" and "Like A
Rock."
Rocker struck out Mickey Morandini to begin the inning, walked
Desi Relaford on a full-count pitch and then finished off the inning by
getting Kevin Jordan and Doug Glanville on fly balls to left.
"No one has ever questioned his stuff," Morandini said. "He
was throwing hard."
Rocker was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth,
and many of the fans left after the Braves failed to score.
After the game, Rocker continued his policy of refusing to speak
to the media about the controversy.
"Beat it, media," he barked at reporters who surrounded his
locker after the game. "Are you deaf?"
Hunter led off the bottom of the 12th with a homer into the
left-field stands against Carlos Reyes (0-1). After the game,
Hunter was designated for assignment to make room on the 25-man
roster for Jordan, who comes off the disabled list Wednesday.
"I knew it coming in," said Hunter, who will be sent to
Triple-A Richmond if he clears waivers. "It's not that big a
deal."
Hunter, batting for only the second time this season, hit a
breaking ball out of the park on the first pitch.
"He guessed right," Reyes said. "In that situation, your
back's against the wall anyway. They've got the last at-bat. I
tried to go right after him."
The Braves escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th.
Rookie Luis Rivera struck out Mike Lieberthal on a 3-2 fastball and
got Morandini on a grounder to short.
Rivera (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for his first major
league win. The Phillies had only one hit after the fifth inning.
Ron Gant homered and Morandini drove in two runs for the
Phillies, who took a 3-1 lead to the seventh. The Braves rallied
against reliever Amaury Telemaco, who created his own problems with
two walks before Chipper Jones hit a two-out, two-run single.
Rocker began warming up in the eighth while Mike Remlinger
retired the Phillies in order. The fans near the right-field
bullpen cheered wildly.
The Braves were also glad to get Rocker back after going 6-6
while he was suspended. In his absence, the makeshift bullpen went
1-4 with a 5.14 ERA and two blown saves.
The Phillies went ahead with an unearned run in the second after
Eddie Perez dropped a pop-up in front of home plate, allowing Rico
Brogna to reach second. He came home on Morandini's single against
Greg Maddux.
Gant, who flied to deep left in his first at-bat, reached the
stands in the third with his second homer of the season, making it
2-0.
The Braves cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third.
Robert Person walked two before giving up a two-out, run-scoring
single to Quilvio Veras.
But the Phillies restored their two-run lead in the fourth by
leading off with three straight hits, including another RBI single
by Morandini. Maddux did a good job of damage control, retiring
Desi Relaford on a popup, then striking out Person and Doug
Glanville.
The Atlanta starter went seven innings, allowing eight hits and
two earned runs while striking out five.
Person allowed six hits and a run during his six-inning stint.
Game notes
The Braves returned home after a 2-4 Midwestern road trip
to begin a nine-game homestand, matching the longest of the season.
... The crowd was bigger than three of the Braves' first six home
games. ... The Phillies began a seven-game road trip. ...
Philadelphia has committed only two errors in its first 12 games.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
Rocker now lets only his arm do the talking
Fans willing to give Rocker another chance
RECAPS
Tampa Bay 0
Baltimore 0
Oakland 8
Cleveland 5
Boston 7
Detroit 0
Anaheim 16
Toronto 10
Chi. White Sox 18
Seattle 11
Minnesota 3
Kansas City 1
NY Yankees 6
Texas 3
San Francisco 13
Cincinnati 9
Florida 12
Pittsburgh 5
Montreal 4
Chicago Cubs 3
NY Mets 10
Milwaukee 7
Atlanta 4
Philadelphia 3
St. Louis 5
San Diego 4
Arizona 7
Colorado 1
Los Angeles 5
Houston 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Brian Hunter says he was ready to play on Tuesday.
wav: 78 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Bobby Cox was pleased with Rocker's performance.
wav: 64 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pitching coach Leo Mazzone comments on Rocker's play.
wav: 1769 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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