Yunel Escobar hit the first game-ending homer of his career, a two-run shot in the 10th inning, and the Braves rallied for a 7-5 victory over the Florida Marlins on Monday night.
Pitching in relief for the first time since 2004, Smoltz came on in the ninth with a 4-3 lead. The Marlins were down to their last out when Jeremy Hermida drove in two runs with a single.
But Jeff Francoeur hustled home on a wild pitch in the bottom half to get Smoltz off the hook, and Escobar won it in the 10th with a drive that bounced off the top of the wall in right center and into the seats.
The Braves, who have a 2-16 record in one-run games, didn't improve on that mark. But they'll take it after getting swept in Cincinnati last weekend.
Mark Teixeira and Francoeur homered in the early going for the Braves, and Escobar came through at the end: His run-scoring single in the eighth gave Smoltz a shot at the save, and the walk-off homer improved Atlanta's home record to 23-7. They are just 7-21 on the road.
But all eyes were on Smoltz, who was activated before the game after two stints on the disabled list and a rehab stint in the minors.
The fans sitting beyond right field began congregating at the railing overlooking the Braves' bullpen in the eighth as Smoltz started to throw, his three-quarters motion much different than the straight overhead delivery everyone was used to before his shoulder problems forced a change.
After Escobar came through with his two-out hit that put Atlanta ahead, the crowd began buzzing in excitement. The bullpen gate swung open and Smoltz emerged, walking slowly to the mound as he did so many times from 2001-04, when he piled up 154 saves as one of baseball's most dominating closers.
But the 41-year-old Smoltz isn't the same pitcher. His new motion relieves the stress on his shoulder but robbed him of one of his most effective pitches, the split-finger fastball. He still throws in the mid-90s, but he's clearly got plenty of work to do on his location.
The ninth started well for Smoltz Cody Ross popped up to third on the first pitch. But Matt Treanor lined a double to the gap in the right-center, the ball skidding off the glove of a diving Gregor Blanco, and pinch-hitter Wes Helms lined a single to left to put runners at first and third.
It looked as though Smoltz might get out of it when Hanley Ramirez flied to medium right. Ross didn't dare test the powerful arm of Jeff Francoeur, but Helms took second on a high throw toward the plate. Hermida followed with a liner to left, the ball getting through Greg Norton to prevent any chance of a play at the plate on the go-ahead run.
At least Smoltz didn't get a loss in his first game back as a closer. Kevin Gregg walked Francoeur and Brian McCann, pinch-hitter Josh Anderson hustled down the line to beat out a potential game-ending double play, and Francoeur raced home with the tying run when Gregg skidded a wild pitch in the dirt.
In the 10th, Logan Kensing (3-1) walked Kelly Johnson, then surrendered Escobar's fifth homer of the season.
Will Ohman (2-0) earned the win with a scoreless top half of the 10th.
-- NOTES: Braves RHP Tim Hudson said his strained left hamstring shouldn't keep him out of next start. Hudson has battled hamstring problems in the past, and said this didn't feel as bad as some of his other strains. Manager Bobby Cox said he will have an emergency starter ready in case Hudson can't start Friday against Philadelphia. ... Another Atlanta pitcher, RH Blaine Boyer, underwent an MRI after tweaking his right knee on Sunday. It showed no damage.
Yunel Escobar (right) celebrates after his game-winning home run. (John Bazemore/AP)
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