GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (43-39) at LA DODGERS (46-36)

NL: ATLANTA (43-39) at LA DODGERS (46-36)

<h3>Smoltz takes mound for up-and-down Braves</h3>

Atlanta (43-39) at La Dodgers (46-36) 10:10 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- John Smoltz will look to start anotherwinning streak when the Atlanta Braves face the Los AngelesDodgers in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

The Braves had a five-game winning streak snapped on Sunday witha 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Florida Marlins.

After Yunel Escobar's two-run single gave Atlanta the lead inthe ninth, Bob Wickman surrendered a solo home run to MiguelOlivo for his fourth blown save of the season. Florida tackedon the winning run in the 10th inning on Josh Willingham's RBIsingle.

Before their five-game winning streak, the Braves had lost fivestraight to the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, scoring justone run in those contests.

Smoltz (9-4, 2.98 ERA) is the only Atlanta representative in the2007 All-Star Game. The 40-year-old righthander pitched fivescoreless innings in his last outing, yielding five hits in a13-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

Smoltz will be opposed by Derek Lowe (8-7, 3.03), who receivedthe loss in his last outing despite pitching well.

The 34-year-old Lowe pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs -one earned - and five hits in a 2-0 loss to the ArizonaDiamondbacks on Wednesday.

The Dodgers avoided being swept with a 5-0 victory over the SanDiego Padres on Sunday thanks to an excellent performance byChad Billingsley, who pitched seven scoreless innings andsurrendered just three hits with a career-high nine strikeouts.

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA AT LA DODGERS -- LINEUPS

ATLANTA LA DODGERS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Willie Harris LF .373 1 12 Rafael Furcal SS .272 2 29
Edgar Renteria SS .324 10 41 Juan Pierre CF .277 0 19
Chipper Jones 3B .327 13 37 Russell Martin C .297 9 53
Andruw Jones CF .199 13 47 Jeff Kent 2B .265 10 39
Brian Mccann C .261 7 41 Luis Gonzalez LF .291 10 39
Jeff Francoeur RF .286 8 52 Nomar Garciaparra 3B .273 2 40
Kelly Johnson 2B .281 8 39 James Loney 1B .415 3 14
Scott Thorman 1B .225 9 32 Matt Kemp RF .400 2 9
John Smoltz RHP .120 0 0 Derek Lowe RHP .200 0 1
(9-4, 2.98) (8-7, 3.03)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS
WARMUPS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (9-4, 2.98)
LOS - DEREK LOWE (8-7, 3.03)

UMPIRES: HP - TOM HALLION
1B - JAMES HOYE
2B - BRIAN O'NORA
3B - PHIL CUZZI

WEATHER: 83 Degrees, clear
WIND: 8 mph, out to center</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS
STARTING BATS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN
LOS - DEREK LOWE AND RUSSELL MARTIN

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.373, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
E RENTERIA (.324, 10 HR, 41 RBI)
C JONES (.327, 13 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 1 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.272, 2 HR, 29 RBI)
J PIERRE (.277, 0 HR, 19 RBI)
R MARTIN (.297, 9 HR, 53 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS LA DODGERS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .198
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Pierre cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
R Martin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
J Kent 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
N Garciaparra 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .415
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 0 -- 0
LA DODGERS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.98

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.01

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe 1-1. Batters
faced: D Lowe 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 1 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.261, 7 HR, 41 RBI)
J FRANCOEUR (.286, 8 HR, 52 RBI)
K JOHNSON (.281, 8 HR, 39 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS LA DODGERS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .198
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
N Garciaparra 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .415
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 0 -- 0
LA DODGERS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.95

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.01

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 12-9; D Lowe 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 1-2; D Lowe 1-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 4; D Lowe 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL ATLANTA AT LA DODGERS
NOTE: LOS ANGELES CATCHER RUSSELL MARTIN EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE FIRST INNING.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: L GONZALEZ (.291, 10 HR, 39 RBI)
N GARCIAPARRA (.273, 2 HR, 40 RBI)
J LONEY (.415, 3 HR, 14 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS LA DODGERS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .198
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
N Garciaparra 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .415
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 00 -- 0
LA DODGERS - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.95

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.98

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 12-9; D Lowe 44-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 1-2; D Lowe 3-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 4; D Lowe 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: S THORMAN (.225, 9 HR, 32 RBI)
J SMOLTZ (.120, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
W HARRIS (.370, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS LA DODGERS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .198
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .407
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .394
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .194

Totals 9 0 3 0 0 0 6

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Lowe 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 00 -- 0
LA DODGERS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 2.92

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.98

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 25-18; D Lowe 44-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 2-4; D Lowe 3-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 9; D Lowe 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY EDGAR RENTERIA SCORED SCOTT THORMAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E RENTERIA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 1
LA DODGERS 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: C JONES (.330, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 1 1 4 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.272, 0-FOR-1)
J PIERRE (.276, 0-FOR-1)
R MARTIN (.299, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (1) VS LA DODGERS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .368
E Renteria ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .325
C Jones 3b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .197
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Thorman 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 12 1 4 1 0 2 3

BATTING: S - J Smoltz. RBI - E Renteria (42). 2-out RBI - E Renteria. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - A Jones 1. Team LOB - 3.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
R Martin c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .264
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .407
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .394
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .194

Totals 9 0 3 0 0 0 6

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Lowe 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 001 -- 1
LA DODGERS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 2.92

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 3 4 1 1 0 2 0 3.03

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 25-18; D Lowe 67-41. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 2-4; D Lowe 5-2. Batters faced: J Smoltz 9; D Lowe 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 1 1 4 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.260, 0-FOR-1)
J FRANCOEUR (.285, 0-FOR-1)
K JOHNSON (.280, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (1) VS LA DODGERS (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .368
E Renteria ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .325
C Jones 3b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .333
A Jones cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .197
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S Thorman 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 12 1 4 1 0 2 3

BATTING: S - J Smoltz. RBI - E Renteria (42). 2-out RBI - E Renteria. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - A Jones 1. Team LOB - 3.


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .272
J Pierre cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276
R Martin c 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .302
J Kent 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
L Gonzalez lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .293
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
J Loney 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .407
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .394
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .194

Totals 13 0 4 0 1 1 10

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Lowe 1, L Gonzalez 1. Team
LOB - 5.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 001 -- 1
LA DODGERS - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 3 4 0 0 1 1 0 2.89

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 3 4 1 1 0 2 0 3.03

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 44-29; D Lowe 67-41. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 3-5; D Lowe 5-2. Batters faced: J Smoltz 14; D Lowe 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Brian O'Nora. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 1 0 1 5 0
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 4 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
LOS - DEREK LOWE

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: N GARCIAPARRA (.275, 1-FOR-1)
J LONEY (.407, 0-FOR-1)
M KEMP (.394, 0-FOR-1)</div>