NL: COLORADO (55-52) at ATLANTA (57-52) <h3>Smoltz to start against Rockies</h3> <div class="pre">Colorado (55-52) at Atlanta (57-52) 7:35 pm EDT</div> ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves will send their loneAll-Star representative to the mound when they host the ColoradoRockies in the opener of a three-game series Friday. John Smoltz (10-5, 2.84 ERA) will get the start as the Braves gofor their fourth win in their last five games. The 19-yearveteran is unbeaten in his last three contests, posting a 1-0record with a 1.71 ERA and 21 strikeouts over that span. The 40-year-old Smoltz gave up three runs and seven hits withsix strikeouts in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks onSaturday. Atlanta has had an offensive explosion recently, scoring 49 runsover its last four games. The Rockies will charge Jeff Francis (11-5, 4.12) with shuttingdown the high-powered Braves' offense. The 26-year-old Canadianyielded just two runs and seven hits with five strikeouts over7 2/3 innings in a 6-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers onSaturday. Colorado has its own offensive weapon in Matt Holliday. TheStillwater, Oklahoma native is batting .417 (15-for-36) withfour homers and 12 RBI over his last 10 games.
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO AT ATLANTA -- LINEUPS COLORADO ATLANTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Willy Taveras CF .316 2 22 Yunel Escobar SS .329 1 14 Kaz Matsui 2B .283 3 25 Kelly Johnson 2B .296 12 56 Matt Holliday LF .337 20 86 Chipper Jones 3B .335 17 56 Todd Helton 1B .296 9 58 Mark Teixeira 1B .273 2 6 Garrett Atkins 3B .266 15 67 Andruw Jones CF .219 21 72 Brad Hawpe RF .290 18 69 Jeff Francoeur RF .306 12 72 Troy Tulowitzki SS .272 12 47 Matt Diaz LF .345 6 29 Yorvit Torrealba C .279 6 31 Brian Mccann C .264 12 64 Jeff Francis LHP .167 0 3 John Smoltz RHP .121 0 2 (11-5, 4.12) (10-5, 2.84)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA WARMUPS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS (11-5, 4.12) ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (10-5, 2.84) UMPIRES: HP - PHIL CUZZI 1B - TOM HALLION 2B - PAUL NAUERT 3B - JAMES HOYE WEATHER: 91 Degrees, clear WIND: 7 mph, swirling</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA STARTING BATS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS AND YORVIT TORREALBA ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN DUE UP FOR COLORADO: W TAVERAS (.316, 2 HR, 22 RBI) K MATSUI (.283, 3 HR, 25 RBI) M HOLLIDAY (.337, 20 HR, 86 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY MARK TEIXEIRA ALLOWED WILLY TAVERAS AND KAZ MATSUI TO SCORE. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B HAWPE ON FIRST, T HELTON ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 2 ATLANTA 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T TULOWITZKI (.272, 12 HR, 47 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 1 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.329, 1 HR, 14 RBI) K JOHNSON (.296, 12 HR, 56 RBI) C JONES (.335, 17 HR, 56 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (2) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .318 K Matsui 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286 M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .336 T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .266 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .289 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 Y Torrealba c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 6 2 2 0 1 1 10 BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Tulowitzki 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .345 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .121 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 2 -- 2 ATLANTA - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.12 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 2 2 0 1 1 0 2.82 IBB - T Helton (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 32-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 0-2. Batters faced: J Smoltz 7. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 1 1 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR COLORADO: Y TORREALBA (.279, 6 HR, 31 RBI) J FRANCIS (.167, 0 HR, 3 RBI) W TAVERAS (.318, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (2) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .318 K Matsui 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286 M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .336 T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .266 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .289 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 Y Torrealba c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 6 2 2 0 1 1 10 BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Tulowitzki 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .327 K Johnson 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .345 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .121 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 2 -- 2 ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.09 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 2 2 0 1 1 0 2.82 IBB - T Helton (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 19-10; J Smoltz 32-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J Francis 0-1; J Smoltz 0-2. Batters faced: J Francis 4; J Smoltz 7. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY MATT HOLLIDAY SCORED YORVIT TORREALBA AND KAZ MATSUI. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M HOLLIDAY ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 4 ATLANTA 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.296, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 4 5 0 ATLANTA 0 0 1 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.219, 21 HR, 72 RBI) J FRANCOEUR (.306, 12 HR, 72 RBI) M DIAZ (.345, 6 HR, 29 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (4) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .289 M Holliday lf 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 .338 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .295 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .266 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .289 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 Y Torrealba c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282 J Francis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .162 Totals 12 4 5 2 1 2 13 BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz); M Holliday (37, J Smoltz). RBI - M Holliday 2 (88). 2-out RBI - M Holliday 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Helton 1, T Tulowitzki 1. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .327 K Johnson 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .345 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .121 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 22 -- 4 ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.09 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 5 4 2 1 2 0 2.94 IBB - T Helton (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 19-10; J Smoltz 51-32. Ground balls-fly balls: J Francis 0-1; J Smoltz 0-4. Batters faced: J Francis 4; J Smoltz 13. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 4 5 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G ATKINS (.266, 0-FOR-1) B HAWPE (.289, 0-FOR-1) T TULOWITZKI (.271, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (4) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .289 M Holliday lf 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 .338 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .295 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .266 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .289 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .271 Y Torrealba c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282 J Francis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .162 Totals 12 4 5 2 1 2 13 BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz); M Holliday (37, J Smoltz). RBI - M Holliday 2 (88). 2-out RBI - M Holliday 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Helton 1, T Tulowitzki 1. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .327 K Johnson 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .343 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .121 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 4 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 22 -- 4 ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 4.06 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 5 4 2 1 2 0 2.94 IBB - T Helton (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 34-19; J Smoltz 51-32. Ground balls-fly balls: J Francis 1-1; J Smoltz 0-4. Batters faced: J Francis 7; J Smoltz 13. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 0 4 6 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.264, 12 HR, 64 RBI) J SMOLTZ (.121, 0 HR, 2 RBI) Y ESCOBAR (.327, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (4) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .289 M Holliday lf 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 .338 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .295 G Atkins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 .268 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 .289 T Tulowitzki ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .270 Y Torrealba c 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .280 J Francis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .162 Totals 15 4 6 2 2 2 15 BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz); M Holliday (37, J Smoltz); G Atkins (25, J Smoltz). RBI - M Holliday 2 (88). 2-out RBI - M Holliday 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1, T Helton 1, T Tulowitzki 1. GIDP - T Tulowitzki. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .327 K Johnson 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .298 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .343 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .121 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 4 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball). DP: 1 (K Johnson-Y Escobar-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 220 -- 4 ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 4.06 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 3 6 4 2 2 2 0 2.92 IBB - T Helton (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 34-19; J Smoltz 62-38. Ground balls-fly balls: J Francis 1-1; J Smoltz 3-4. Batters faced: J Francis 7; J Smoltz 17. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 0 4 6 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 2 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR COLORADO: J FRANCIS (.162, 0-FOR-1) W TAVERAS (.317, 1-FOR-2) K MATSUI (.289, 2-FOR-2)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (4) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .289 M Holliday lf 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 .338 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .295 G Atkins 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 .268 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 .289 T Tulowitzki ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .270 Y Torrealba c 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .280 J Francis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .162 Totals 15 4 6 2 2 2 15 BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz); M Holliday (37, J Smoltz); G Atkins (25, J Smoltz). RBI - M Holliday 2 (88). 2-out RBI - M Holliday 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1, T Helton 1, T Tulowitzki 1. GIDP - T Tulowitzki. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .324 K Johnson 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .298 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .334 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 M Diaz lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .343 B McCann c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .118 Totals 11 0 2 0 0 5 5 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball). DP: 1 (K Johnson-Y Escobar-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 220 -- 4 ATLANTA - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis 3 2 0 0 0 5 0 4.03 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 3 6 4 2 2 2 0 2.92 IBB - T Helton (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 54-34; J Smoltz 62-38. Ground balls-fly balls: J Francis 1-3; J Smoltz 3-4. Batters faced: J Francis 11; J Smoltz 17. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 0 0 4 6 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 2 1 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: C JONES (.334, 0-FOR-1) M TEIXEIRA (.250, 0-FOR-1) A JONES (.218, 0-FOR-1)</div>
