Braves sweep 3 from the Nationals
The Good: The Braves hadn’t swept a team in a month but they sure chose the right time to step it up. The Nationals, notorious for their many 1-run wins this season, got a taste of their own medicine this time around as they dropped 3 games by 1 run each to the Braves. We’ll look back at this series at the end of the season and say to ourselves “that was the turning point of the season for the Braves, where they seized control of the division and never looked back.” 
… If this was the series the Braves seized control of the division, could it also have been the one during which Jeff Francoeur seized control of the Braves’ right field starting job? He was 5-for-8 in the series with 4 runs scored and 4 RBIs. He electrified the hometown crowd with a pair of home runs to cap things Thursday. Bobby Cox has gone on the record stating Francoeur will start all 3 games against the Pirates. If Kelly Johnson continues to struggle we should see a Langerhans/Johnson left field platoon pretty soon. … This just in: John Smoltz is having a great year. The Braves’ workhorse continued on his amazing roll Tuesday night, allowing only 2 runs on 8 hits in 8 innings. He struck out 4 and walk 2. Still, with meager run support, he was in line for a loss when some late-inning heroics won the game for the Braves. … I think it’s safe to say Tim Hudson is back in form after his oblique muscle injury. His line for Wednesday: 7 innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. … Jorge Sosa, the Braves’ starter savior, continues to work his magic. He has given up 2 runs or less in 7 of his 9 starts, including his 2-run performance Thursday, this season. He scattered 7 hits in 5 innings while walking 2 and striking out 4. His record now stands at 6-1. Can you say Comeback Player of the Year? … Rafael Furcal’s shoulder continues to heal nicely. He went 6-for-11 with 2 runs scored in the series and has raised his average back up to .268 (you’ll remember he bottomed out at .220 as recently as June 21st). … It was 9 up and 9 down against Chris Reitsma in 3 1-inning appearances in the series. He picked up 1 win and 2 saves. 
The Bad: Adam LaRoche tallied just 1 hit, albeit a home run, in 10 series at-bats. But man cannot live on dingers alone. He has shaved 15 points off his average in the past 2 weeks and is back down at .260. 
… It’s that time again in the blog where we rag on Dan Kolb. He stole a win Wednesday, allowing the 2 runners he inherited from John Foster score on 2 hits. Macay McBride bailed him out Thursday after he gave up 2 hits in 2/3 of an inning. If only John Schuerholz could find a team to take him off our hands before the trade deadline. We’re not that lucky. 
The Ugly: Chipper Jones was spiked high on his leg by Jose Guillen in the 6th inning of Thursday afternoon’s game. As Chipper awaited a throw from catcher Brian McCann to complete a force out Guillen tore through his pants with his cleats. Chipper believes it was a malicious act borne out of frustration and both players have hinted at possible future retaliation.
