ATLANTA -- As Chipper Jones prepared for Turner Field's final home opener on Monday afternoon, he provided a vivid description of what had transpired exactly 19 years earlier, when he had fittingly recorded the first hit in this stadium's history.
"I never rooted so hard for a pitcher to go 1-2-3 in the first inning, for Denny Neagle to go 1-2-3. And when he did, I had to dodge two more hitters," Jones said. "Even then, the pressure is on to go up and get the first hit."
After Neagle provided the Braves a perfect first inning on April 4, 1997, Cubs starting pitcher Kevin Foster retired the first two batters he faced -- Kenny Lofton and Michael Tucker.