It appeared that utility player Martin Prado had lost his opportunity when he missed 55 games this season after he left the May 4 game against the Reds with a sore left thumb. It was actually a severe sprain, and while no surgery was required, his left hand was placed in a cast. When he finally came off the disabled list, he got only spot starts, backing up injured or sick players all over the infield.
Then first baseman Casey Kotchman was placed on the bereavement list to be at the bedside of his mother, who was critically ill. Backup Greg Norton played one game at first and jammed his shoulder in a collision on a put-out. Prado got the emergency start at first Aug. 20 and took to the position immediately, not only fielding as though he'd been there forever but hitting consistently as he did. He hit a major league best .432 (32 for 74) in August (minimum 50 plate appearances) while playing, at various times, at first, second, third and short.
With numbers like that, Prado had to be in the lineup somewhere, so when the regular infield starters were good to go, manager Bobby Cox gave Prado his first career major league game in left field Sept. 17 against the Phillies at Turner Field. It was the fifth position he had played this season.
At least left field is his regular position in winter ball and not something he had to learn on the fly.
Prado started at third base Friday and went 1-for-5. He is hitting .324 for the season after hitting a combined .277 in parts of the 2006 and '07 seasons for the Braves.
ASTROS 5, BRAVES 4: The Braves fought to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning Friday only to have RHP Julian Tavarez give up a pinch-hit home run to Darin Erstad in the bottom of the ninth. RHP Jorge started the game but lasted only three innings.
