Braves Manager Praises SS Renteria's Play

Braves Manager Praises SS Renteria's Play

Published: 3/12/06, 4:47 PM EDT
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Edgar Renteria looks at home back in the National League.

Renteria, who left the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent after the 2004 season for the Boston Red Sox, led the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 win over the Cardinals on Sunday, getting two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer.

After a difficult year with the Red Sox, Renteria said he feels comfortable with the Braves.

"I just want to get a ring," said Renteria, who was with the world champion Florida Marlins in 1997. "It feels like I was always meant to play here."

Renteria struggled to a career high in errors (30) last season, and his fewest homers (eight) since 1998. Critics said Renteria had a hard time dealing with the constant scrutiny that comes with playing for the Red Sox.

"I never got booed before and I didn't know how to deal with that," Renteria said. "I don't have anything to prove."

Renteria feels he has been hitting the ball as well as he was in 2004, but the hits haven't been falling in. Braves manager Bobby Cox said he wasn't concerned, after Renteria's performance moved his spring average to .294.

"He's hitting the ball better than anybody in this camp," Cox said. "We are thrilled to have him here. He's slugging the ball and doing great things in the middle of the infield, but I've seen him do those things a million times."

Chuck James started for the Braves and allowed two runs in three innings. James, not a strong candidate to make the Braves' rotation this season, fell into a 2-0 hole in the third inning when Chris Duncan singled in a run and So Taguchi knocked in Jeff Suppan to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

Suppan went four innings for the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits. The Braves scored when Renteria came home on a double play. The Braves scored three runs in the fifth, capped by Renteria's two-run homer off Brandon Looper. Sean White pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game for the Braves.

Center fielder Andruw Jones was a late scratch for the Braves. Jones injured his back in Puerto Rico on Thursday while participating for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Jones was taking photos in the dugout when he slipped and injured himself. Cox said Jones is day to day, but the injury isn't serious.

Jones took batting practice Sunday but said he wasn't quite ready to play.

credit BellSouth