Braves decimate 'stros

[General]

ATLANTA -- Mike Hampton returned to his dominant ways and Ryan Langerhans enjoyed a career-best six-RBI performance, while helping the Braves complete a four-game sweep of the Astros with a 16-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at Turner Field.

Hampton, who was coming off his first loss of the season and just the second in his past 20 starts, allowed two hits, recorded his ninth career shutout and topped things off with his 15th career homer to begin the eighth. His previous low-hit complete game had come on Aug. 2, 1997, when, as an Astro, he limited the Mets to three hits.

While facing the minimum through eight innings, the only damage Hampton incurred came courtesy of Mike Lamb's single that began second inning. The southpaw is 15-2 with a 2.65 ERA in his past 21 starts, dating back to July 4 of last year.

Langerhans, who grew up about three hours from Houston, hit two-run homers in the second and seventh innings. Each of his three homers this year have come against the Astros. His first career homer was a game winner in a 12-inning, April 18 game against them at Minute Maid Park.

Backup catcher Eddie Perez added to the five-run, third-inning eruption against Astros starter Ezequiel Astacio with a two-run homer. Andruw Jones, who has 16 hits in his past 32 at-bats, put the finishing touches on a successful homestand with a two-run homer in the seventh against Brandon Duckworth, who also served up Langerhans' second homer.


From MLB.com

[ATLien]

Aside from last year's playoff series, Atlanta has always owned the Stros.

[General]

Too bad we f'ed up in the playoffs, which is where it matters.

[redsrbetter]

Great job Tribe! Very nice to see that they can kill the Stros like that! Braves have been coming through against the NL Central all year.

[ATLien]

Yes, we have a 1.5 lead over the Marlins. NL East is going to be a fun race this year.