PHOENIX -- When Braves manager Bobby Cox was heaping daily praise in Yunel Escobar's direction during the early days of Spring Training, there was reason to wonder if he was staging a marketing campaign that would only heighten Escobar's trade value.

But during his first two months in the Majors, Escobar has proven the hype was well-deserved and that he's a talent far too valuable to trade. Along with a potent bat that has produced a .313 batting average and a rocket arm, the Cuban infielder possesses an advanced awareness that certainly opened some eyes at Chase Field in Friday night's 11-inning loss to the Diamondbacks.

After drawing a two-out, pinch-hit walk off All-Star closer Jose Valverde in the ninth inning, Escobar saw Valverde on the side of the mound, bending over, with his back to first base. Immediately, the Braves infielder raced toward an unguarded second base and completed a successful stolen base that put him in position to score the game's tying run on Willie Harris' RBI single.

"You'd be shocked how many times players could do that, that don't," said Cox, who says he was successful with this daring attempt during his Major League days with the Yankees.

When Cox was playing rookie-level ball for the Dodgers, his manager, Kenny Myers, told all of his players to race toward second as soon as they saw an inattentive pitcher drop their head. Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria says that he too was given this instruction during his early days at the professional level.

"It's something you see a lot in the Minors and not as much up here, because guys have had it happen to them in the Minors," Renteria said. "That's why when a guy gets to first base, I'm always paying attention."

Escobar, who says he converted similar stolen-base attempts in his native Cuba and during his Minor League days, has batted .327 with a .382 on-base percentage and a .397 slugging percentage in July. Among the National League rookies with at least 125 plate appearances, his .313 batting average ranks fifth and his .756 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) ranks eighth.

"I think he's going to be a pretty good ballplayer," Braves first baseman Julio Franco said. "He's got the ability."

Stingy Moylan: With the bases loaded and nobody out in Friday's seventh inning, Cox turned to Peter Moylan and the sidewinding Australian proved that it's no fluke that he statistically ranks with Rafael Soriano as the Braves' best relief options.

With two groundouts, including one that was snared by second baseman Kelly Johnson's quick glove, and a strikeout, Moylan escaped the unenviable situation unscathed.

"I wasn't even thinking about not giving up a run," Moylan said. "I was just thinking, 'Get ground balls and minimize the damage.'"

Of the Braves relievers who have completed at least 20 innings this year, Moylan's 2.08 ERA ranks as the best by more than a full run. His 1.12 WHIP (walks plus hits, divided by innings pitched) and .296 on-base percentage allowed rank second only to Soriano, who since last week's struggles has rebounded with three consecutive scoreless innings, including two on Friday.

Left-handed liability: After watching Wil Ledezma surrender Tony Clark's walk-off homer on Friday night, Cox carefully thought about his words before saying, "He's got to get a little more control."

When the Braves sent left-handed specialist Macay McBride to the Tigers in exchange for Ledezma on June 20, they knew they were getting a talented hurler who'd incurred his share of struggles in Detroit. Their hope that he'd turn things around in Atlanta hasn't come close to being realized.

In the 12 appearances he's made with Atlanta, Ledezma has posted a 7.71 ERA and seen opponents produce a .300 batting average and .356 on-base percentage against him. He's surrendered at least one earned run in six of his past 11 appearances.

In the 23 appearances he made for the Tigers this year, Ledezma posted a 4.79 ERA, allowed a .277 batting average and saw opponents reach safely at a .390 clip.

McCann matches Javy: While gunning down three attempted basestealers on Friday, All-Star catcher Brian McCann established a career-best mark and became the first Braves catcher to do so since Javy Lopez on Sept. 24, 1995.

Entering Saturday, McCann had retired 15 of the 43 opponents who had attempted a stolen base against him this year. The resulting .259 mark ranked as the NL's third worst, ahead of only Milwaukee's Johnny Estrada (.193) and San Diego's Michael Barrett (.186).

Game time change: ESPN has opted to televise the Braves' Aug. 12 game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park as its Sunday Night Game of the Week. The game will now start at 8:05 p.m. ET.

Coming up: The Braves will conclude their three-game series against the Diamondbacks at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday. They'll send Tim Hudson (10-5, 3.24) to the mound to face Livan Hernandez (6-6, 4.59).