NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - PITCHING CHANGE COL: MATT HERGES (0-0, 4.50) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 1 DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M TEIXEIRA (.286, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: M Herges relieved R Ramirez. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 9 ATLANTA 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M Teixeira (.286, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: C Sullivan in left field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 9 ATLANTA 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M Teixeira (.286, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: M Herges relieved R Ramirez. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 9 ATLANTA 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M Teixeira (.286, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Carroll at shortstop. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 9 ATLANTA 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M Teixeira (.286, 1-FOR-3)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY MARK TEIXEIRA (3) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF MATT HERGES. CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 2 DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.217, 0-FOR-3)</div>
Francis, Rockies crush Braves <h3>COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 2</h3>By Phil Foley Special to PA Sportsticker ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Jeff Francis helped the Colorado Rockies remain one of the National League's hottest teams. Francis hurled six solid frames for his seventh consecutive win and Garrett Atkins smashed a three-run homer to power the surging Rockies to a 9-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. The 26-year old Francis was superb once again, cooling off a torrid Atlanta offense, which scored 49 runs over its last four games. Facing one of the more dangerous lineups in the National League, Francis (12-5) surrendered just one run and six hits with eight strike outs and no walks. After a slow start, Colorado has been on fire since the beginning of May, winning 46 of 82 games for a National League-best .561 winning percentage. Part of the Rockies' success has been the phenomenal pitching of their ace Francis. The Canadian lefthander is now 7-0 with a 4.30 ERA in his last 10 starts. The Rockies are 9-1 in Francis' starts over that stretch. Francis has not lost to a National League club since the San Francisco Giants bested him on May 2. Colorado (56-52) is off to its best start in franchise history. The 1995 club - the only team in the history of the Rockies franchise to make the playoffs - had an identical 56-52 record through 108 games. Garrett Atkins continued his torrid hitting, connecting on the 1-1 offering from Braves starter John Smoltz (10-6) for a three-run homer, his 16th of the season, in the seventh inning. The 27-year old Atkins, who drove in two of Colorado's four runs on Thursday, has 14 RBI over his last 10 games. Smoltz endured one of his worst performances of the season, surrendering a season-high seven runs - five earned - and nine hits with four walks and five strikeouts over 6 2/3 frames. The 40-year old Smoltz, who hurled 51 pitches in his first two frames, fell to 11-5 in his career against the Rockies. Colorado took advantage of a rare defensive miscue by two-time Gold Glove Award winning first baseman Mark Teixeira to take a 2-0 lead in the first. Willy Taveras lead off the game with a bad hop double that fooled Teixeira. Kazuo Matsui followed with a single and Smoltz issued a one-out intentional walk to Todd Helton to load the bases. Brad Hawpe followed by grounding a ball to the usually sure handed Teixeira, who misplayed the ball, allowing Taveras and Matsui to score. Colorado added to the lead in the second inning on a two-out, two run double by Holliday. Teixeira homered in the ninth for Atlanta, which fell to 10-11 since the All Star break. The 27-year-old swith hitter has homered in each of his three games since joining the Braves.
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 9 13 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 2 (FINAL) BATTERIES: COL - JEFF FRANCIS, JEREMY AFFELDT (7TH), RAMON RAMIREZ (8TH), MATT HERGES (9TH) AND YORVIT TORREALBA ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, TYLER YATES (7TH), JOEY DEVINE (8TH), LANCE CORMIER (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN, CORKY MILLER (9TH) HOME RUNS: COL - GARRETT ATKINS (16) OFF JOHN SMOLTZ IN THE 7TH, 2 ON ATL - MARK TEIXEIRA (3) OFF MATT HERGES IN THE 9TH, 0 ON</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 9 13 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 2 (FINAL) BATTERIES: COL - JEFF FRANCIS, JEREMY AFFELDT (7TH), RAMON RAMIREZ (8TH), MATT HERGES (9TH) AND YORVIT TORREALBA ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, TYLER YATES (7TH), JOEY DEVINE (8TH), LANCE CORMIER (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN, CORKY MILLER (9TH) WP - JEFF FRANCIS (12-5) LP - JOHN SMOLTZ (10-6) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: COL - GARRETT ATKINS (16) OFF JOHN SMOLTZ IN THE 7TH, 2 ON ATL - MARK TEIXEIRA (3) OFF MATT HERGES IN THE 9TH, 0 ON TIME: 2:59 ATT: 37,481 PROBABLES: COL - UBALDO JIMENEZ (1-0, 3.50) ATL - TIM HUDSON (11-5, 3.09)</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">COLORADO (9) VS ATLANTA (2) - FINAL COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 5 1 2 0 0 1 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 5 3 3 0 0 1 2 .290 M Holliday lf 5 1 2 2 0 2 3 .338 C Sullivan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325 T Helton 1b 3 1 0 0 2 2 2 .293 G Atkins 3b 5 2 3 3 0 0 3 .271 B Hawpe rf 2 0 0 0 3 0 3 .288 T Tulowitzki ss 4 0 2 2 1 0 3 .274 M Herges p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Y Torrealba c 5 1 1 0 0 1 5 .277 J Francis p 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .154 J Affeldt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-J Baker ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .214 R Ramirez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 J Carroll ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232 Totals 38 9 13 7 6 8 25 a-flied out to right for J Affeldt in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (12, J Smoltz); M Holliday 2 (38, L Cormier, J Smoltz); G Atkins (25, J Smoltz). HR - G Atkins (16, 7th inning off J Smoltz 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Holliday 2 (88), G Atkins 3 (70), T Tulowitzki 2 (49). 2-out RBI - M Holliday 2, G Atkins 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1, T Helton 1, J Francis 1, K Matsui 1, T Tulowitzki 1. GIDP - T Tulowitzki, Y Torrealba 2. Team LOB - 8. BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (19, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). FIELDING: DP: 1 (G Atkins-K Matsui-T Helton). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .327 K Johnson 2b 3 0 2 0 1 0 1 .299 C Jones 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 .334 L Cormier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 M Teixeira 1b 4 1 2 1 0 2 3 .333 A Jones cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .217 J Francoeur rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303 M Diaz lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .343 B McCann c 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .265 C Miller c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 J Smoltz p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .114 T Yates p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 J Devine p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-C Woodward ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 34 2 8 1 1 11 14 a-flied out to left for J Devine in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - C Jones (24, J Francis). HR - M Teixeira (3, 9th inning off M Herges 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Teixeira (7). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Jones 1. GIDP - A Jones. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: E - M Teixeira (1, ground ball); J Smoltz (1, bobble). DP: 3 (K Johnson-Y Escobar-M Teixeira, J Smoltz-Y Escobar-M Teixeira, Y Escobar-K Johnson-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 220 000 302 -- 9 ATLANTA - 000 100 001 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era J Francis (W, 12-5) 6 6 1 1 0 8 0 4.01 J Affeldt 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.72 R Ramirez 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 9.00 M Herges 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 4.85 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz (L, 10-6) 6 2/3 9 7 5 4 5 1 3.04 T Yates 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.01 J Devine 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 2.25 L Cormier 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 15.58 IBB - T Helton 2 (by J Smoltz). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 102-64; J Affeldt 12-8; R Ramirez 20-13; M Herges 15-12; J Smoltz 104-65; T Yates 3-2; J Devine 28-15; L Cormier 27-19. Ground balls-fly balls: J Francis 7-3; J Affeldt 0-2; R Ramirez 1-1; M Herges 1-1; J Smoltz 8-7; T Yates 1-0; J Devine 0-1; L Cormier 2-0. Batters faced: J Francis 23; J Affeldt 3; R Ramirez 4; M Herges 5; J Smoltz 32; T Yates 1; J Devine 5; L Cormier 6. UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Tom Hallion. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--James Hoye. T--2:59. Att--37,481. Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, swirling.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COLORADO (9) AT ATLANTA (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COLORADO 1ST: W Taveras doubled to right. K Matsui singled to right, W Taveras to third. K Matsui stole second. M Holliday struck out swinging. T Helton intentionally walked. G Atkins lined out to third. B Hawpe safe at first on error by first baseman M Teixeira, W Taveras and K Matsui scored, T Helton to third. T Tulowitzki flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 2, ATLANTA 0. COLORADO 2ND: Y Torrealba singled to center. J Francis fouled out to catcher. W Taveras flied out to center. K Matsui singled to right, Y Torrealba to second. M Holliday doubled to deep center, Y Torrealba and K Matsui scored. T Helton struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 4TH: C Jones doubled to deep left center. M Teixeira singled to left, C Jones to third. A Jones grounded into double play, third to second to first, C Jones scored, M Teixeira out at second. J Francoeur grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 7TH: W Taveras struck out swinging. K Matsui reached on bunt single to pitcher, K Matsui to second on error by pitcher J Smoltz. M Holliday struck out swinging. T Helton intentionally walked. G Atkins homered to center, K Matsui and T Helton scored. T Yates relieved J Smoltz. B Hawpe grounded out to shortstop. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 7, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 9TH: L Cormier relieved J Devine. C Miller catching. C Woodward at third base. M Holliday doubled to deep right. T Helton struck out looking. G Atkins singled to right, M Holliday to third. B Hawpe walked, G Atkins to second. T Tulowitzki singled to center, M Holliday and G Atkins scored, B Hawpe to second. Y Torrealba grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, T Tulowitzki out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 1. ATLANTA 9TH: C Sullivan in left field. M Herges relieved R Ramirez. J Carroll at shortstop. M Teixeira homered to center. A Jones struck out swinging. J Francoeur grounded out to pitcher. M Diaz singled to center. C Miller lined out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 2.</div>
NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COLORADO (9) AT ATLANTA (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Colorado Starting Lineups -- W Taveras CF, K Matsui 2B, M Holliday LF, T Helton 1B, G Atkins 3B, B Hawpe RF, T Tulowitzki SS, Y Torrealba C, J Francis LHP. Atlanta Starting Lineups -- Y Escobar SS, K Johnson 2B, C Jones 3B, M Teixeira 1B, A Jones CF, J Francoeur RF, M Diaz LF, B McCann C, J Smoltz RHP. Umpires -- Phil Cuzzi (HP), Tom Hallion (1B), Paul Nauert (2B), James Hoye (3B). Gametime Weather: 89 degrees, Clear, wind swirling at 7 mph. COLORADO 1ST: W Taveras doubled to right. K Matsui singled to right, W Taveras to third. K Matsui stole second. M Holliday struck out swinging. T Helton intentionally walked. G Atkins lined out to third. B Hawpe safe at first on error by first baseman M Teixeira, W Taveras and K Matsui scored, T Helton to third. T Tulowitzki flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 2, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 1ST: Y Escobar struck out swinging. K Johnson singled to right. C Jones flied out to center. M Teixeira struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 2, ATLANTA 0. COLORADO 2ND: Y Torrealba singled to center. J Francis fouled out to catcher. W Taveras flied out to center. K Matsui singled to right, Y Torrealba to second. M Holliday doubled to deep center, Y Torrealba and K Matsui scored. T Helton struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 2ND: A Jones struck out swinging. J Francoeur grounded out to third. M Diaz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 0. COLORADO 3RD: G Atkins doubled to deep left. B Hawpe walked. T Tulowitzki grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, B Hawpe out at second, G Atkins to third. Y Torrealba grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 3RD: B McCann singled to right. J Smoltz struck out looking. Y Escobar flied out to center. K Johnson popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 0. COLORADO 4TH: J Francis struck out swinging. W Taveras bunt grounded out to pitcher. K Matsui flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 4TH: C Jones doubled to deep left center. M Teixeira singled to left, C Jones to third. A Jones grounded into double play, third to second to first, C Jones scored, M Teixeira out at second. J Francoeur grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 5TH: M Holliday flied out to left. T Helton grounded out to shortstop. G Atkins flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 1. ATLANTA 5TH: M Diaz grounded out to second. B McCann struck out swinging. J Smoltz grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 6TH: B Hawpe walked. T Tulowitzki reached on infield single to pitcher, B Hawpe to second. Y Torrealba grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, T Tulowitzki out at second, B Hawpe to third. J Francis grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 1. ATLANTA 6TH: Y Escobar singled to center. K Johnson singled to right, Y Escobar to second. C Jones struck out swinging. M Teixeira struck out looking. A Jones grounded into fielder's choice to third, K Johnson out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 7TH: W Taveras struck out swinging. K Matsui reached on bunt single to pitcher, K Matsui to second on error by pitcher J Smoltz. M Holliday struck out swinging. T Helton intentionally walked. G Atkins homered to center, K Matsui and T Helton scored. T Yates relieved J Smoltz. B Hawpe grounded out to shortstop. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 7, ATLANTA 1. ATLANTA 7TH: J Affeldt relieved J Francis. J Francoeur struck out looking. M Diaz flied out to center. B McCann flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 8TH: J Devine relieved T Yates. T Tulowitzki walked. Y Torrealba struck out swinging. J Baker hit for J Affeldt. J Baker flied out to right. W Taveras reached on infield single to shortstop, T Tulowitzki to second. K Matsui struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, ATLANTA 1. ATLANTA 8TH: R Ramirez relieved J Affeldt. C Woodward hit for J Devine. C Woodward flied out to left. Y Escobar struck out swinging. K Johnson walked. C Jones grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, ATLANTA 1. COLORADO 9TH: L Cormier relieved J Devine. C Miller catching. C Woodward at third base. M Holliday doubled to deep right. T Helton struck out looking. G Atkins singled to right, M Holliday to third. B Hawpe walked, G Atkins to second. T Tulowitzki singled to center, M Holliday and G Atkins scored, B Hawpe to second. Y Torrealba grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, T Tulowitzki out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 1. ATLANTA 9TH: C Sullivan in left field. M Herges relieved R Ramirez. J Carroll at shortstop. M Teixeira homered to center. A Jones struck out swinging. J Francoeur grounded out to pitcher. M Diaz singled to center. C Miller lined out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 2.</div>
Francis, Rockies crush Braves <h3>COLORADO 9, ATLANTA 2</h3>By Phil Foley PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Jeff Francis helped the Colorado Rockiesremain one of the National League's hottest teams. Francis hurled six solid innings for his seventh consecutive winand Garrett Atkins smashed a three-run homer off John Smoltz topower the surging Rockies to a 9-2 win over the Atlanta Braveson Friday. The 26-year-old Francis was superb once again, cooling offAtlanta's torrid offense, which had scored 49 runs over its lastfour games. Facing one of the more dangerous lineups in theNL, Francis (12-5) surrendered just one run and six hits,striking out eight without a walk. "It's no secret what that offense is capable of," Francis said."As a player, you try to do your job. I was able to get out ofsome jams and we scored nine runs. That helps, too." After a slow start, Colorado has been on fire since thebeginning of May, winning 46 of 82 games for an NL-best .561winning percentage. Part of the Rockies' success has been thephenomenal pitching of their ace Francis. The Canadian lefthander is now 7-0 with a 4.30 ERA in his last10 starts. The Rockies, who climbed within three games of thefirst-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West Division, are9-1 in Francis' starts over that stretch. "He's been unbelievable," Atkins said. "Every time he goes outthere, he's throwing six or seven innings, allowing one or tworuns. Anytime you do that, you give the offense we have achance to win." Francis has not lost to a National League club since the SanFrancisco Giants bested him on May 2. "He's a good pitcher every fifth day," Matt Holliday said. "Hegives us a chance to win. He's sorta taken over our role. Heand (Aaron) Cook have been our aces." Colorado (56-52) is off to its best start in franchise history.The 1995 club - the only team in the history of the franchise tomake the playoffs - had an identical 56-52 record through 108games. Atkins continued his torrid hitting, connecting on a 1-1offering from Smoltz (10-6) for a three-run homer - his 16th ofthe season - in the seventh inning. The 27-year-old Atkins, whodrove in two of Colorado's four runs on Thursday, has 14 RBIover his last 10 games. "He just kind of left an off-speed pitch over the plate," Atkinssaid. "I was able to stay on it and put a good swing on it. Itfeels good. I always knew I could hit. I knew it was a matterof time before I got my stroke back and helped the team winballgames." Smoltz endured one of his worst performances of the season,surrendering a season-high seven runs - five earned - and ninehits with four walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 frames. The40-year-old Smoltz, who threw 51 pitches in his first twoinnings, fell to 11-5 lifetime against the Rockies. "I did not have any rhythm," Smoltz said. "I was battlingmyself. I just couldn't get anything going at all. I don'tknow how many walks I had, but I don't usually walk that manypeople. I battled. That's all I can do." Colorado took advantage of a rare defensive miscue by two-timeGold Glove Award-winning first baseman Mark Teixeira to take a2-0 lead in the first. Willy Taveras led off the game with a bad-hop double that fooledTeixeira. Kaz Matsui followed with a single and Smoltz issueda one-out intentional walk to Todd Helton, loading the bases. Brad Hawpe followed by grounding a ball to the usuallysure-handed Teixeira, who misplayed the ball, allowing Taverasand Matsui to score. "I've never seen anything like that," Teixeira said. "I wouldhave liked to have made the play to help Smoltz. Sometimesweird things happen. I provide myself on my defense. I'm moreupset not making plays than striking out with runners on base." Colorado added to the lead in the second inning on a two-out,two-run double by Holliday. Teixeira homered in the ninth for Atlanta. It was his thirdblast in as many games, making him the first player since GarySheffield at the start of the 2002 campaign to homer in hisfirst three games in a Braves uniform. "Sheff's one of the best hitters in baseball," Teixeira said."Anytime you throw his name out there, he deserves respect." Chipper Jones scored on a double play in the fourth for Atlanta,which fell to 10-11 since the All-Star break.
