Braves take 2 of 3 from the Marlins
The Good: The Braves won their 2nd consecutive series for the first time since May 3rd. … With rookies like Kelly Johnson, Wilson Betemit, and Pete Orr hitting their strides, the Braves just 3 1/2 games out of 1st place, and key starting pitchers close to returning, the Braves just might be able to pull out another division title in their most impressive fashion ever. … Andruw Jones is looking like the player who led all major-leaguers in home runs during Spring Training. He took 2 more deep in the series, including his league-leading 21st homer (which was his 10th in his last 12 games) Wednesday. He tallied 6 RBIs in the series. … Kelly Johnson was 5-for-11 in the series and extended his hitting streak to 9 games Thursday night. … John Smoltz just keeps getting better and better. He hurled his first complete game shutout since April 30th, 1999. He gave up only 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. 
The Bad: Dan Kolb continues his consistent work. Consistently bad that is. Another inning, another run allowed. But that’s nothing compared to Adam Bernero who is suddenly giving Kolb a run for his money for relieving incompetence. After giving up 3 runs in one inning of work against the Reds on Sunday, Bernero allowed 4 runs on 5 hits in 2/3 of an inning. He was very efficient as it took him only 21 pitches to give up those 4 runs! 
… Johnny Estrada was 0-for-6 in the series. … Wilson Betemit had 1 hit in 8 at-bats during the 3 games.
The Ugly: The depletion of the Braves’ starting staff to injuries is reaching comic proportions! Horacio Ramirez had to leave Wednesday’s game after 5 innings (shutout innings no less) when he strained his groin running out a double. It is questionable whether he will be able to make his next start. That might leave Smoltz as the sole survivor of the Fab 5 starters the Braves began the season with. After transitioning from the bullpen to the starting rotation, wasn’t Smoltz purported to be the most susceptible to an injury? Thank heavens that hasn’t been the case. Where would the Braves be without their workhorse? I don’t want to know.
