Braves take 2 of 3 from the Giants
The Good: John Smoltz continues to amaze. Smoltzie picked up his 7th straight win, throwing 8 innings of 6-hit ball, giving up 1 run, striking out 7, and walking none. … Jorge Sosa notched his 3rd win as a starter but keeps getting himself into (and out of) jams, allowing numerous baserunners on walks (4) and hits (6 in 6 innings). Despite allowing only 1 run, he needs to improve his command and stop nibbling so much or his luck will soon run out. 
… Adam LaRoche was 3-for-7 with a clutch, game-tying home run and 2 RBIs in the series. … Andruw Jones launched 2 more homers to remain on the heels of Derrek Lee for the National League home run lead.
The Bad: Chipper Jones is back but no one really knows for how long. 
Despite homering on the 2nd pitch he saw after returning from the DL Monday night, Chipper is still noticeably hampered by the partially torn ligament in his left foot that kept him out of action for a month. He went hitless in his next 9 at-bats in the series. He also appears to have lost a step both on the basepaths and when reacting to balls hit to him in the field. … Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, and Kelly Johnson were each 2-for-12 in the series. … Johnny Estrada was 1-for-8 in the set.
The Ugly: After battling back to tie Tuesday’s game in the 9th inning on a LaRoche homer, Dan Kolb allowed a runner on base with a single in the bottom of the 9th. The runner then came around to score when Estrada failed to adequately block home plate (no doubt due in part to flashbacks of his collision with Darin Erstad) on a bang-bang play at the plate. Kelly Johnson’s throw beat the runner yet the umpire ruled that he barely beat the tag, much to the displeasure of Estrada, Bobby Cox, and pitcher Jay Powell.
I think you have to include Raffy’s error in the “ugly". Without that, the runner is at 2B, not going home.
Comment by Wendy — Jul 22, 2005 @ 2:32 pm
Good point.
Comment by Matthew Crowder — Jul 23, 2005 @ 8:56 pm