Braves Prospects Excelling

Spring of Hope

It was a memorable first Grapefruit League game Saturday for Kyle Davies, the top Braves pitching prospect. Not only did he pitch well in his two-inning stint, but the Stockbridge High School graduate had a hit.

Davies was using Jeff Francoeur's batting helmet and batting gloves when he lined the ball back up the middle against veteran reliever Turk Wendell.

Francoeur gave his longtime friend the business when he got back to the dugout, but Davies got him back. "I'll always have the edge on him," the pitcher joked. "He'll never be batting 1.000."

Davies pitched a perfect second inning, then allowed three hits and a run in the third. He was 13-3 in the minors last season, with 173 in 142 1/3 innings.

Catcher impresses with bat and arm

Catching prospect Brian McCann from Duluth was 2-for-2 with a double in his Grapefruit League debut Saturday and threw out a runner trying to steal. . . . Reliever Jorge Vasquez, acquired from Kansas City in the Eli Marrero trade, pitched two hitless innings, striking out two and walking one.

McCarthy keeps team unbeaten

After starting 0-5 in Grapefruit League play last year, the Braves are unbeaten this time, winning four one-run games.

Right fielder Billy McCarthy made a game-saving catch in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, then drove in the tie-breaking run with a two-out single in the 10th inning. Andy Marte singled and Scott Thorman doubled to set up the deciding run.

Left-hander Andy Van Hekken, a former Detroit pitcher, got the victory with two scoreless innings as Pete Orr made a nice turn at second base on a game-ending double play.