Lillibridge makes major league debut with Braves

NEW YORK

Shortstop Brent Lillibridge made his major league debut April 26 after the Atlanta Braves purchased his contract from Class AAA Richmond.

Lillibridge, who played at Jackson High School and the University of Washington, started in place of injured Atlanta shortstop Yunel Escobar in Saturday’s game against the New York Mets. Lillibridge was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the game won by the Mets 4-3.

“It’s pretty cool,” Lillibridge said before the game. “It’s a dream come true. Whether I get a hit or not, I’m going to enjoy this.”

Lillibridge had just five hits in his first 50 at bats with Richmond this season and only recently started fighting his way out of an early season slump. With a three-hit game on Friday night, the 24-year-old shortstop raised his batting average to .195.

“I definitely didn’t see hitting .200 and being up here,” said Lillibridge, who has more than 40 stolen bases in both of the past two seasons. “But it’s at the right time for me.”

Lillibridge hit .275 (11-for-40) over his past 10 games for Richmond.

Lillibridge is the 16th former Husky to play in the majors and the seventh who played under current UW head coach Ken Knutson.

Lillibridge was a three-year starter for the Huskies, earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2003, 2004 and 2005. A career .342 hitter, he ranks fourth on the UW career home runs list with 32.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, Lillibridge was traded to the Braves prior to the 2007 season.

Escobar shattered the fingernail of his right index finger when he was hit by a pitch in the Braves’ 6-3 win Friday night. X-rays were negative.

After going 0-for-3 in his major league debut, Lillibridge remained hitless in the big leagues, going 0-for-4 in a 6-3 loss to the Mets on April 27.

But Lillibridge did pick up a first. Lillibridge had his first RBI when he drove in Mark Kotsay on a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning.

Lillibridge’s grounder looked like it would result in an inning-ending double play, but the Jackson graduate beat out the throw to allow Kotsay to score from third base.