Braves' Byrd has success in return

Cleveland manager Eric Wedge earned his first ejection of the season.
ATLANTA (AP) -- Paul Byrd waited a long time between major league starts.
Determined to make the most of his comeback from Tommy John surgery, Byrd pitched seven shutout innings in his first start since 2002 to lead the Atlanta Braves past the Cleveland Indians 4-0 Saturday night.
Backed by two-run homers from Eli Marrero and Julio Franco, Byrd won for the first time in exactly 21 months.
"It feels great to be part of the team instead of sitting there with your arm in an ice bucket," Byrd said.
Highlight catch
Byrd enjoyed some strong defensive support, including a key sixth-inning catch by J.D. Drew in center field. Drew, subbing for the injured Andruw Jones, caught up with a drive hit by pinch-hitter Raul Gonzalez to lead off the inning. A sprinting Drew, running toward right field, caught the ball on the warning track.
"I told the guys I'm not going to strike everybody out but I'm going to work fast and give them an opportunity to get on SportsCenter," Byrd said.
Byrd was making his first major league start since Sept. 25, 2002, for Kansas City against the Chicago White Sox. His last win came Sept. 19, 2002. He had surgery on July 1, 2003, and was activated from the disabled list earlier Saturday.
"He pitched well, especially for one who hadn't pitched in a long time," Indians catcher Tim Laker said.
Byrd said he returned with a little more velocity on his fastball, but is especially encouraged with the better movement on his pitches.
"That's why I think I will be as good or better," he said.
Mini-fatigue
Byrd appeared to tire in the sixth and seventh innings, when he gave up doubles to Matt Lawton and Casey Blake and the drive by Gonzalez.
"But then the next couple of pitches were unbelievable and he was back again," Braves catcher Eddie Perez said.
Byrd (1-0) received an ovation from the Turner Field crowd of 41,987 and handshakes from his teammates when he walked off the field after the seventh inning. He threw 91 pitches -- 64 for strikes.
"It's a big win," Drew said. "I think everybody is excited to see Byrd throw so well."
Antonio Alfonseca gave up two hits with two outs in the eighth inning. John Smoltz relieved and got Travis Hafner to ground out with runners on first and second. Smoltz then pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save.
The Braves had lost three straight and seven of 10 to fall four games under .500 this late in the season for the first time since 1990.
They'll take it
"Any type of performance would have picked us up tonight," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook's ERA rose from an AL-leading 2.70 to 2.98 as he gave up eight hits and four runs in five innings. He gave up just three earned runs in his first three starts this month.
Westbrook (6-3) allowed a two-run homer to Marrero in the second inning and another two-run shot to Franco in the third, the first time in 13 outing this season he gave up two home runs in a game.
Marrero's third homer of the season followed an infield single by Dewayne Wise. Franco's fifth homer followed a double by Chipper Jones.
CLEVELANDATLANTA
abrhbiabrhbi
Lawton lf4030Furcal ss4030
Vizquel ss1000NGreen 2b4000
JMcDld ss3010JDrew cf2000
Hafner 1b4000CJones 3b4110
Blake 3b4010JuFrco 1b4112
Gerut rf4000DWise rf4110
Blliard 2b4000Mrrero lf4122
Crisp cf3010EddPrz c3000
Laker c3000Byrd p3010
Wstbrk p1000Alfnsca p0000
RGnzlz ph1000Smoltz p0000
Betncrt p0000
Brssrd ph1000
RiWhte p0000
Totals33060Totals32494
Cleveland000000000--0
Atlanta02200000x--4
E--JuFranco (1). LOB--Cleveland 6, Atlanta 6. 2B--Lawton (11), Blake (12), Furcal (7), CJones (5). HR--JuFranco (5), Marrero (3). SB--Lawton (13). CS--Crisp (5), Furcal (2).
IPHRERBBSO
Cleveland
Westbrook L,6-3584414
Betancourt210012
RiWhite100001
Atlanta
Byrd W,1-0740004
Alfonseca2-320000
Smoltz S,111 1-300000
Umpires--Home, C.B. Bucknor; First, Chuck Meriwether; Second, Chris Guccione; Third, Eric Cooper. T--2:16. A--41,987.
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