Rookie C Brian McCann made his major league debut in Friday's
6-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics. The 2002 graduate of Duluth
(Georgia) High School made the start in front of 200 friends and
family. McCann finished with two hits and picked up his first
major league RBIs in the second inning. Braves manager Bobby Cox
was particularly impressed with McCann's performance and said
that the rookie would catch RHP John Smoltz on Saturday. ... RHP
Kyle Davies started for Atlanta on Friday and allowed four runs
and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. ... The starting battery of
Davies (21) and McCann (21) was the youngest in the major
leagues since August 19, 1984, when the Mets started 19-year-old
Dwight Gooden and 21-year-old John Gibbons against the Montreal
Expos at Shea Stadium. ... C Johnny Estrada (mild concussion)
will not play this weekend against the Athletics, but is
expected to be cleared by Monday, when the Braves face the Texas
Rangers. Estrada was injured Monday in a violent collision at
the plate with Anaheim's Darin Erstad. ... RHP Seth Greisinger
cleared waivers and was assigned to Class AAA Richmond on June
9. On Thursday, OF Raul Mondesi also cleared waivers and was
granted his unconditional release.