The Good: Andruw Jones was 5-for-11 in the series with 3 runs batted in and 3 runs scored. His 2 series homers bring his total to 37 on the season (eclipsing his career high of 36 at this early juncture!) and the rest of baseball is eating his dust in the power department. … Marcus Giles went 5-for-13 during the series with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. His career-high 15-game hitting streak has brought his average up to .308. … Jeff Francoeur also went 5-for-13 with a couple RBIs and saw his average plummet over 30 points to a mere .400. … Horacio Ramirez turned in another brilliant performance at home (where he is 7-1 with a 2.91 ERA). He surrrendered 1 run on 6 hits in 7 2/3 innings to nab his 10th win of the season. If only he could get batters out on the road (where he sports a 3-6 record and 5.87 ERA)! Maybe the Braves should implement a home/away platoon of Jorge Sosa and Horacio Ramirez in the 5th rotation spot. That would probably be a first!

The Bad: John Smoltz had a 2-hit shutout working until the 8th inning. After giving up a run in the 8th he gave up 2 more in the 9th and allowed the tying run on base (who came around to score after Chris Reitsma relieved Smoltz). Smoltz finished with a no-decision (though the Braves ultimately won in extra innings) and a disappointing line of 8 1/3 innings pitched, 8 hits, 4 runs (all earned), no walks, and 6 strikeouts. … Tim Hudson meanwhile allowed only 1 run in 6 strong innings. Unfortunately, he pitched 7 innings total. His final stats were 7 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 1 walk and a season-high 10 strikeouts. His record dropped to 8-7 on the season. … Wilson Betemit was 1-for-11 at the plate but continues to play solid defense, minimizing the likelihood the Braves will look to Andy Marte for help if Chipper Jones cannot return to the field soon. … Chipper Jones hasn’t started the past 8 games due to injury. He was hitless in a pinch-hit appearance. It is a good sign if he can at least swing the bat I guess.

The Ugly: It appears the Braves’ starters are tiring toward the end of the game more and more. Is Bobby Cox going to the bullpen too late because of the trust he has in his veterans or his lack of confidence in his relievers? The unavailability of Kyle Farnsworth during his suspension didn’t help matters either. Whatever the reason, it cost the Braves one game (and almost a second) in this series. One game likely won’t determine whether the Braves go to the postseason this year but if they’re going back to the World Series it will be on the backs of 3 of their 4 horsemen (Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Thomson). Now is the time to define everyone’s bullpen roles and refrain from overexerting our starters as a 14th straight division becomes more likely by the day.