One after another the tight spirals dropped out of the hot, thick Flowery Branch air into the outstretched arms of receivers Tuesday on the opening day of mini-camp for the Atlanta Falcons.
Clint Dempsey scored in the first minute and rookie substitute John Brooks scored a late game winner as the U.S. defeated Ghana 2-1 Monday in the World Cup opener for both.
Kole Calhoun's bases-loaded single in the 13th inning drove in the go-ahead run and the Los Angeles Angels recovered after blowing a four-run lead in the ninth to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-6 Saturday night.
The Louisville Bats scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and held off the Gwinnett Braves for a 1-0 win on Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
England knew surviving a group with two other former World Cup champions would be tough, but the team never expected to be trailing Costa Rica after the opening games.
Evan Gattis and Chris Johnson hit back-to-back homers in the first inning and the Braves edged the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Friday night for their first interleague win.
Behind stellar pitching from starter Alex Wood and the bullpen, the Gwinnett Braves beat the Louisville Bats by a 5-1 score on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
