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John Thomson improved to 4-5 on the season by holding the Marlins to one run over seven innings of work tonight.
He walked two and struck out four while yielding two doubles and two singles. Tonight was his first quality start in four outings this month, and his second since the end of April.
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Andruw Jones blasted his major league-leading 51st homer of the season tonight against the Marlins.
He's just not slowing down, as the homer was his eighth this month. Jones has collected at least seven homers in every month since May. He hit just three in April.
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Chipper Jones, Rafael Furcal, Jeff Francoeur, and Andruw Jones all homered in a 6-1 win over the Marlins tonight.
All six runs scored on homers as Furcal and Francoeur blasted two-run shots while Chipper and Andruw added solo homers. The win eliminates the Marlins from a possible division title and lowers the Braves' magic number to four.
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Andruw Jones said he's dealing with sore hamstrings and knee pain from overcompensating.
Jones snapped a 3-for-33 slump with his 51st homer in the eighth inning Saturday, his first in nine games. He leads the league in long balls and RBI (127). He could see a day off or two in the final week, but remains a must-start.
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Jorge Sosa pitched five innings and allowed three runs today in a no-decision against the Marlins.
Even on his bad days, Sosa has managed to avoid getting lit up. He allowed seven hits and walked four -- two intentionally -- while throwing 85 pitches today, but he left with the score tied and the Braves went on to win 5-3
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Marcus Giles had a game-tying, two-run homer in the fifth and a go-ahead sac fly in the seventh today in the Braves' 5-3 win over the Marlins.
Giles has hit five of his 13 homers during September. The Braves' magic number in the NL East stands at two.
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Chipper Jones has now hit at least 20 homers in 11 straight season, good for a Braves record.
Last week Jones got his 1,000th career walk, joining Gary Sheffield as the only active players with 1,000 walks and fewer than 1,000 strikeouts. He had his 100-RBI season streak broken last year when he recorded just 96, snapping an eight-year streak of having at least 100
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John Smoltz (shoulder) has been scratched from his start Wednesday. Kyle Davies will take his spot.
The Braves didn't even wait to clinch to make the announcement. Smoltz said ''there's a great chance'' he won't pitch again during the regular season, hoping the extra rest will help him feel stronger for an expected start in Game 1 of the NLDS
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Horacio Ramirez surrendered three runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings tonight against the Rockies.
Another outing that hardly inspires any confidence. Ramirez is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts this month.
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Chris Reitsma was called in to protect a two-run lead in the eighth tonight and gave up two singles and a homer without retiring a batter.
Reitsma had allowed just one run in 11 1/3 innings this month, so this won't push him out of setup duties. Still, the Braves have to be very concerned about their pen with the postseason a week away.
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Blaine Boyer left tonight's game with a strained right shoulder and is day-to-day.
Boyer's shoulder has been giving him trouble for a while now. He'll probably be used sparingly if at all this week.
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Has Chuck James pitched a game since he got called up?
WTF?
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Braves recalled RHP Joey Devine from Triple-A Richmond.
Devine was shut down at the end of the minor league season with a sore hip, but it seems he's feeling better now. He might make an appearance or two after the Braves officially wrap up the NL East.
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Tim Hudson picked up a win tonight after yielding three runs over six innings against the Rockies. With the Phillies beating the Mets tonight, the Braves have clinched 14th straight NL East title.
Simply amazing. The Braves figure to rest key regulars this weekend as they get ready for the playoffs. With Houston holding a 2 1/2 game lead over Philadelphia, it looks like the Braves will be hosting the Astros for the second straight season.
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Marcus Giles went 2-for-3 with two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI as the Braves defeated the Rockies 12-3 tonight.
The Braves collected 13 hits and six walks in the blowout. Giles has now hit seven of his 15 homers this season in September.