 10/10/2004 9:43 PM ET
Another inspiring rally
Despite deficit, we never lost faith in Game 4
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| Charles Thomas and the Braves are heading home for Game 5 on Monday after winning Game 4 in Houston on Sunday afternoon. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Charles Thomas went from being a relative unknown to one of the most important factors in the Braves' late-season surge. When the 25-year-old Thomas was promoted from Triple-A Richmond on June 23, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox didn't even know what he looked like. But after he hit .288 with seven homers and played splendid defense in left field during the regular season's final three months, Thomas became a well-known figure throughout baseball. Thomas has agreed to provide MLB.com with a daily diary throughout the Braves' postseason run.
I'm running out of words to describe the way our team continues to fight back. It is just awesome to see John Smoltz dominate the postseason, like I've seen him do so many times before when I was growing up as a Braves fan.
When we fell behind in Sunday's Game 4, none of us ever lost faith that we couldn't come back and win. It's just been the way it's been for us all year long. But to be able to gain a 6-5 victory over the Astros in front of their home crowd in a do-or-die situation is just incredible.
To see Adam LaRoche come up in the sixth inning and tie the game with that big three-run homer was just what we needed. He's having a wonderful series and it's just great to see that happen to a great guy.
Hopefully, on Monday in Game 5, all of us can come through like Adam has been doing for us this whole series. The guy is really swinging the bat well and he doesn't look like a rookie at all.
While some people might just be finding out who Adam is, everybody already knows about Smoltz. That guy is just incredible. He throws three scoreless innings on Thursday and then two more on Sunday. The way he has stepped up is just phenomenal.
Smoltzie struggled at the end of the regular season, but the way he's been throwing in the playoffs just proves why he is who he is. The guy has 14 postseason wins now -- somebody just told me that he broke a playoff record.
These past two games here in Houston have been energetic. It was such a great atmosphere here -- they're so behind their team. To be able to battle back like that is just a great feeling. But all it does is bring us to another game where our backs are against the wall.
The only difference on Monday will be that both teams will have their backs against the wall. But now we'll be playing in front of our crowd at Turner Field, and hopefully we can get it done.
I'm not going to be nervous. I'm too excited about it already. It's just another ballgame that we have to win. Charles Thomas' diary appears as told to MLB.com reporter Mark Bowman. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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