More Nyjer, Please

“I’ve seen enough of Nyjer Morgan for one series,” said Braves play-by-play announcer Chip Caray this afternoon as Morgan made a diving catch on an Alex Gonzalez fly ball to end the sixth inning.

Nyjer Morgan doing what he does best.

Indeed, if I were a Braves fan, I would probably be pretty sick of Nyjer Morgan right about now. Morgan, acquired essentially as an afterthought right at the end of spring training, came up big in the Atlanta series. He got his first start of the season in right field on Monday, and struggled a little, going 0-2 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt while hitting seventh. Of course, no one was really doing anything with the bat against Brandon Beachy on Tuesday, so the fact that he got on base is something.

On Tuesday, Nyjer got the start in center field over the struggling Carlos Gomez. Morgan, hitting second, came up big, going 3 for 4 with a triple (although that could have been an out, but Braves RF Jason Heyward lost it in the lights). Morgan was thrown out at home plate in the game, but the three hits helped get a sputtering Brewer offense going, and even though they only managed one run, they came away with their first win of the season.

Morgan came on to pinch hit in the eighth on Wednesday and knocked another base hit. He was reinserted into the starting lineup today, and picked up one hit in four at bats – a double, which he followed with a stolen base, which he followed by taking out catcher Brian McCann at home plate on a ground ball by George Kottaras, which forced McCann to lose the baseball and allowed Morgan to step on home plate for the Brewers’ third run – and ultimately difference-making – run.

“He’s a spark,” said Ron Roenicke.