GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (52-47) at SAN FRANCISCO (41-55)

NL: ATLANTA at SAN FRANCISCO

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ATLANTA (4) AT SAN FRANCISCO (2) - EVENT LOG
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Atlanta Starting Lineups -- W Harris LF, E Renteria SS, C Jones 3B, A Jones CF,
B McCann C, J Francoeur RF, K Johnson 2B, J Franco 1B, J Smoltz RHP.

San Francisco Starting Lineups -- D Roberts CF, R Winn RF, R Durham 2B,
B Bonds LF, R Klesko 1B, B Molina C, P Feliz 3B, O Vizquel SS, M Cain RHP.

Umpires -- Mark Wegner (HP), Bruce Froemming (1B), Mike Winters (2B),
Brian Runge (3B).

Gametime Weather: 65 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to right at 14 mph.


ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris flied out to right. E Renteria walked. C Jones
singled to right, E Renteria to third. A Jones walked, C Jones to second.
B McCann doubled to deep center, E Renteria, C Jones and A Jones scored.
J Francoeur grounded out to third. K Johnson walked. J Franco flied out to
right. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, SAN FRANCISCO 0.

SAN FRANCISCO 1ST: D Roberts reached on bunt single to first. R Winn lined
out to left. R Durham safe at first on error by shortstop E Renteria,
D Roberts to second. B Bonds walked, D Roberts to third, R Durham to second.
D Roberts scored, R Durham to third, B Bonds to second on wild pitch by J Smoltz.
R Klesko struck out swinging. B Molina grounded out to catcher. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
1 Error) ATLANTA 3, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

ATLANTA 2ND: J Smoltz grounded out to shortstop. W Harris flied out to
left. E Renteria singled to right center. C Jones struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 2ND: P Feliz grounded out to second. O Vizquel grounded out
to third. M Cain lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3,
SAN FRANCISCO 1.

ATLANTA 3RD: A Jones struck out swinging. B McCann flied out to left.
J Francoeur flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3,
SAN FRANCISCO 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 3RD: D Roberts grounded out to second. R Winn singled to
center. R Durham grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first,
R Winn out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 3, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

ATLANTA 4TH: K Johnson singled to center. J Franco doubled to deep right,
K Johnson to third. J Smoltz sacrificed to first, K Johnson scored, J Franco
to third. W Harris walked. E Renteria grounded into double play, third to
second to first, W Harris out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4,
SAN FRANCISCO 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 4TH: B Bonds grounded out to second. R Klesko singled to
left center. B Molina struck out swinging. P Feliz grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, R Klesko out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

ATLANTA 5TH: C Jones grounded out to first. A Jones doubled to deep right
center. J Taschner relieved M Cain. K Frandsen at third base. B McCann flied
out to left. J Francoeur intentionally walked. K Johnson grounded out to
third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 5TH: O Vizquel grounded out to second. K Frandsen grounded
out to shortstop. D Roberts walked. R Winn singled to right, D Roberts to
third. R Durham struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4,
SAN FRANCISCO 1.

ATLANTA 6TH: J Franco reached on infield single to second. J Smoltz bunted
into fielder's choice to first, J Franco out at second. W Harris flied out to
center. E Renteria grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Smoltz out
at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 6TH: B Bonds grounded out to second. R Klesko struck out
swinging. B Molina grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

ATLANTA 7TH: C Jones struck out looking. A Jones grounded out to third.
B McCann grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4,
SAN FRANCISCO 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 7TH: M Sweeney hit for J Taschner. M Sweeney doubled to deep
center. O Vizquel singled to right, M Sweeney to third. K Frandsen grounded
into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Sweeney scored, O Vizquel out
at second. D Roberts singled to left center. R Winn grounded out to second.
(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 2.

ATLANTA 8TH: J Sanchez relieved J Taschner. J Francoeur grounded out to
first. K Johnson singled to center. J Franco flied out to center. M Diaz hit
for J Smoltz. M Diaz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4,
SAN FRANCISCO 2.

SAN FRANCISCO 8TH: R Soriano relieved J Smoltz. R Durham struck out
looking. B Bonds singled to center. R Klesko grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, B Bonds out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 2.

ATLANTA 9TH: W Harris struck out swinging. E Renteria grounded out to
shortstop. C Jones grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 2.

SAN FRANCISCO 9TH: B Wickman relieved R Soriano. B Molina flied out to
center. F Lewis hit for J Sanchez. F Lewis struck out swinging. O Vizquel
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 2.</div>

 

Smoltz, McCann lift Braves over Giants

<h3>ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 2</h3>SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- John Smoltz stifled the San FranciscoGiants' offense and ensured Barry Bonds would have to waitanother day in his crawl towards Hank Aaron's home run record.

Smoltz pitched seven effective innings and Brian McCann drove inthree runs to lift the Braves to a 4-2 victory over the SanFrancisco Giants in the opener of a four-game series Monday.

After pitching seven scoreless innings with a season-high 11strikeouts in his first game back from the disabled list onWednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, Smoltz gave up two runs -one earned - and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Smoltz is just 2-1 over his last four starts despite posting a1.44 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 25 innings.


Rafael Soriano pitched around Bonds' base hit in the eighthinning and Bob Wickman pitched a perfect ninth to record his17th save of the season.


McCann gave Smoltz all the run support he needed in the openingframe by sending a 2-1 offering from Giants starter Matt Cain(3-12) to deep center for a three-run double, giving Atlanta anearly 3-0 advantage.


It was not a good start for Cain, who threw 43 pitches in thefirst after the Braves sent eight batters to the plate in theinning. The first four hitters drew full counts en route toloading the bases for McCann, who extended his hitting streak tosix games.


After losing five of their last seven games, the Braves werefinally able to gain some ground in their chase for the NL Eastdivision crown, trailing by three games behind thedivision-leading New York Mets, who had an off day.

After drawing a walk in the first inning, Bonds grounded out tosecond in the fourth and sixth before his eighth-inning single.

The seven-time MVP is now 1-for-9 with four walks in his lastthree games since blasting two home runs against the ChicagoCubs on Thursday.


Cain was relieved after hurling 95 pitches over 4 1/3 innings.The 22-year-old righthander surrendered four runs and six hitswith four walks and two strikeouts en route to his thirdstraight loss.


Cain is 1-7 with a 4.82 ERA in his last eight starts. In thoseseven losses, the Giants' offense has produced just nine runs.

San Francisco got on the scoreboard early when Dave Robertsscored on Smoltz's wild pitch in the first inning, cuttingAtlanta's lead to 3-1.

 

Smoltz, McCann lift Braves over Giants

<h3>ATLANTA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 2</h3>SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- John Smoltz stifled the San FranciscoGiants' offense and ensured Barry Bonds would have to waitanother day in his crawl towards Hank Aaron's home run record.

Smoltz pitched seven effective innings and Brian McCann drove inthree runs to lift the Braves to a 4-2 victory over the SanFrancisco Giants in the opener of a four-game series Monday.

After pitching seven scoreless innings with a season-high 11strikeouts in his first game back from the disabled list onWednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, Smoltz gave up two runs -one earned - and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Smoltz is just 2-1 over his last four starts despite posting a1.44 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 25 innings.


"Smoltzy had another terrific game, that's back-to-back,"Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "He came off the disabled listand had the 15-day break and he's been strong both times. Hewent a strong seven tonight. We had to be a little bit carefulwith him make sure he can go all year if he can and McCann gotthe big hit in the very first inning. That held up."

"It was a good way to start our road trip," Smoltz said. "It'sa tremendous challenge. I like to go after (Bonds). It's weirdto go after a lineup where you know he's one of the best, butnow he's chasing something everybody is going to ask youquestions about all year. We were able to win the game and Iwas able to challenge him."


Rafael Soriano pitched around Bonds' base hit in the eighthinning and Bob Wickman pitched a perfect ninth to record his17th save of the season.


McCann gave Smoltz all the run support he needed in the openingframe by sending a 2-1 offering from Giants starter Matt Cain(3-12) to deep center for a three-run double, giving Atlanta anearly 3-0 advantage.


"It was great, I needed it," McCann said. "I feel like I'mgetting back to where I was and it was good to go the other waythree times tonight. To get Smoltzy a three-run lead is hugefor us."


It was not a good start for Cain, who threw 43 pitches in thefirst after the Braves sent eight batters to the plate in theinning. The first four hitters drew full counts en route toloading the bases for McCann, who extended his hitting streak tosix games.


After losing five of their last seven games, the Braves werefinally able to gain some ground in their chase for the NL Eastdivision crown, trailing by three games behind thedivision-leading New York Mets, who had an off day.

"It's all about winning games," McCann said when asked about thecircus atmosphere surrounding Bonds' chase. "We want to get tothe postseason. We want to play in October. That'severybody's goal in this clubhouse."


After drawing a walk in the first inning, Bonds grounded out tosecond in the fourth and sixth before his eighth-inning single.

The seven-time MVP is now 1-for-9 with four walks in his lastthree games since blasting two home runs against the ChicagoCubs on Thursday.


"We pitched to him every time," Cox said. "He can still swingthe lumber. He's really been the best ballplayer in the game foryears."


San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was pleased with what he sawfrom Bonds in his at-bats against one of the National League'stop pitchers.


"He swung the bat well tonight," Bochy said. "He hit ballshard. Barry's fine. He's not gonna change. He's dealt witheverything. He hasn't changed a bit. He's got that ability tokeep all the distractions away and he's done that."

Cain was relieved after hurling 95 pitches over 4 1/3 innings.The 22-year-old righthander surrendered four runs and six hitswith four walks and two strikeouts en route to his thirdstraight loss.


"It was just not getting necessarily ahead of guys withfastballs and that got me in trouble," Cain said. "I was hit ormiss in the beginning I wasn't getting ahead of guys with thefastballs."


Cain is 1-7 with a 4.82 ERA in his last eight starts. In thoseseven losses, the Giants' offense has produced just nine runs.

San Francisco got on the scoreboard early when Dave Robertsscored on Smoltz's wild pitch in the first inning, cuttingAtlanta's lead to 3-1.