The Worst to First Association

[motnahp]

Charlie Puleo (8-2) was sharp once again, going 7 innings, as the Braves topped the Rays 7-2. Puleo allowed only 4 hits and a run, walking 3 and striking out 6. Ted Simmons was 2-5 with a homer (3) and 4 RBI. Ron Gant added a solo homer (6) and Tommy Gregg went 2-3. Tanyon Sturtze (7-8) allowed 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings and was charged with the loss.

SAT JUN 25

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[motnahp]

The Braves edged the Devil Rays 3-2 to take 2 of 3 in the series. Zane Smith (6-5) went 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. The Braves got hitless relief from Jim Acker (2/3 IP), Paul Assenmacher (2/3 IP), and Bruce Sutter (1 IP, SV 17). Gerald Perry hit his 2nd homer. Paul Wilson (8-8) took the loss for Tampa Bay. The Braves now head north to the Bronx to close out the month with a 3-game series against the Yankees.

SUN JUN 26

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Season record: 46-31, 2nd place in NL East, 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Braves took the opener from the Yankees 6-2. Starting pitcher for New York....Chuck Cary. I guess it was bound to happen. Of course, the Braves' version of Cary was called upon to face Don Mattingly in the 8th inning. Mattingly grounded out to end the inning.

Pete Smith (7-2) went 7 2/3 innings to collect the win. Cary and Alvarez finished up. Ted Simmons had a solo homer (4). Gerald Perry went 2-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Ron Gant was 3-5 with a double and RBI. Ken Griffey went 2-5. Mel Hall provided the Yankee runs with a 2-run homer, his 7th. New York's version of Chuck Cary took the loss and falls to 6-4.

MON JUN 27

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[motnahp]

Prior to the game, the Braves activated OF Lonnie Smith from the DL and sent C Bruce Benedict to AAA. The move leaves only Ozzie Virgil and Ted Simmons on the roster as catchers. Benedict was 9-68, all singles, batting .132.

The Braves' bats were, perhaps, in mourning for Benedict, as Tim Leary shut them down and the New Yorkers prevailed 3-1. Leary (9-5) and Lance McCullers (SV 25) combined to hold the Braves to only 3 hits. Lonnie Smith had one of the hits in his return to the lineup, a solo homer (3) in the 8th inning. Dave Winfield was 2-3 for the Yankees with a double, his 15th homer, and 2 RBI. Rick Mahler went the distance on the mound for the Braves, but fell to 7-6.

TUE JUN 28

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[motnahp]

Tom Glavine (7-6) went the distance, as the Braves took 2 of 3 from the Yankees, 6-2. Lonnie Smith was the hitting star today. Serving as DH in his 2nd game back from the disabled list, he homered (4) to center field in the 1st, flew out to deep center in the 2nd, tripled to right in the 5th, then doubled to center in the 7th. He came up with the bases loaded in the top of the 8th, needing only a single to hit for the cycle. He just missed a grand slam homer, settling for a sacrifice fly to deep left. He ended up 3-4 with 3 RBI. Dave LaPoint (6-5) took the loss for the Yankees. Dave Winfield had a solo homer, his 16th.

The Braves will take Thursday off, then open up July at home with 3 games against the Baltimore Orioles.

WED JUN 29

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NYY_____2____6___1

Season record: 48-32, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Standings at the end of June:

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.....and the rest:

[motnahp]

The Orioles came to town and whipped the Braves, 7-2. Rich Schu led the way, going 3-5 with 2 triples and 3 RBI. Jeff Ballard (6-7) went 6 innings for the win. Mark Williamson pitched the final 3 innings for his 2nd save. Charlie Puleo allowed only 2 runs in 6+ innings, but fell to 8-3 with the loss.

FRI JULY 1

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[motnahp]

The Orioles made it 2 straight over the Braves, winning 2-1. Eddied Murray was 4-5 with 2 RBI and Cal Ripken went 3-5. Dave Schmidt (6-2) picked up the win in relief, while Gregg Olson earned his 24th save. Zane Smith (6-6) took the loss for the Braves. Ron Gant was 2-4, including his 7th home run.

SAT JULY 2

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[motnahp]

Ken Griffey's pinch-hit 2-run double in the bottom of the 7th broke a 2-2 tie and the Braves went on to beat the Orioles 5-4. Gerald Perry also drew a bases-loaded walk in the 7th to increase the lead to 5-2. Joe Boever allowed a 2-run Eddie Murray homer (6) in the 8th, then Bruce Sutter pitched a 1-2-3 9th for his 18th save. Pete Smith (8-2) was the winning pitcher. He allowed only 2 runs in 7 innings. Albert Hall hit a solo homer for the Braves, his 1st of the season. Dave Schmidt allowed 3 runs in only 1/3 of an inning. His record falls to 6-3. The Braves now host the Cardinals for a 3-game series.

SUN JULY 3

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ATL______5___6___1

Season record: 49-34, 2nd place in NL East 2 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

The All-Star teams were announced and there are no Atlanta Braves on the squad.

[motnahp]

Ozzie Virgil singled in Dion James with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th, as the Braves beat the Cardinals, 5-4. James opened the 11th by drawing a walk from Tom Bruno (0-4). After a Jerry Royster fly out, Lonnie Smith's fly to right was misplayed by Jim Dwyer, putting runners on 2nd & 3rd. Gerald Perry struck out, then Virgil delivered the game-winner. Bruce Sutter (2-1) pitched a scoreless 11th and picked up the win. Ken Griffey had a pinch-hit 2-run homer, his 2nd. Ken Reitz (7) and Lou Brock (2) hit solo homers for the Cards.

MON JULY 4

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[motnahp]

Tom Glavine went 7 innings and the Braves pounded the Cardinals, 7-1. Glavine (8-6) was followed on the mound by Jose Alvarez and Joe Boever, who each pitched perfect 1-2-3 innings. At the plate, Ken Griffey was 3-4 with his 3rd homer and 2 RBI. Dion James went 2-3 with a double and RBI, and Ted Simmons had 2 RBI. Eric Rasmussen (3-8) took the loss.

TUE JULY 5

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ATL_____7__12___1

[motnahp]

The Braves blanked the Cardinals 4-0 to complete a 3-game sweep. Zane Smith came into the game with 2 outs in the 1st inning to replace an injured Charlie Puleo and Smith was brilliant. He finished the game, going 8 1/3 innings, allowing only 6 hits. He struck out 6 and walked no one. He improves to 7-6 on the season. Ron Gant hit a 3-run homer (8) to account for most of the scoring. Ken Griffey was 4-5. Silvio Martinez (4-4) took the loss. Puleo's injury is a minor quad injury and he should be fine in a few days.

With Zane Smith coming out of the bullpen the day before his scheduled start, the rotation is hurting. The Braves sent OF Albert Hall to AAA Richmond and recalled P John Smoltz. Smoltz will start the opening game of the 4-game series with the Reds tomorrow.

Also, OF Lonnie Smith, removed from yesterday's game with a calf injury, is expected to miss a couple more games. Ken Griffey is filling in nicely, though.

WED JULY 6

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Season record: 52-34, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

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[motnahp]

Rookie John Smoltz was brilliant, allowing only 3 hits and a run over 7 innings before leaving for a pinch hitter in a 1-1 game. The Braves erupted for 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th and knocked off the Reds 6-1. Smoltz improved to 2-3 on the season. The Braves got perfect relief from Paul Assenmacher and Jim Acker in the 8th and 9th innings, respectively. At the plate, Dion James was 3-5, Ozzie Virgil went 2-4 witn a double and 2 RBI, and Ken Oberkfell was 2-4 with an RBI. Frank Pastore (4-8) took the loss for the Reds.

THUR JULY 7

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[motnahp]

The Braves dropped a tough one to Mario Soto (10-2) and the Reds, 5-3. Cincinnati led 3-0 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th before the Braves rallied, tying the score on a Ron Gant 2-run triple and a Ted Simmons RBI single. With the game tied at 3-3, Johnny Bench smacked a 2-run homer (8) in the top of the 9th off Bruce Sutter (2-2). Joe Price retired the Braves in the 9th for his 25th save. Dan Driessen also homered (9) for the Reds.

FRI JULY 8

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[motnahp]

Ken Griffey's double in the bottom of the 13th scored Ron Gant with the winning run, as the Braves topped the Reds, 3-2. Bruce Sutter (3-2) collected the win, while Greg Harris (1-3) took the loss.

SAT JULY 9

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[motnahp]

The Braves broke out the bats and punished the Reds, 7-1. Dale Murphy was 2-4 with a homer (10) and 3 RBI. Gerald Perry went 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI and Ken Griffey added an RBI double. Tom Glavine (9-6) allowed only 3 singles and 1 run in 8 innings, walking but one and striking out 8. Tom Hume (6-2) suffered the loss in relief. Cincinnati starter Bruce Berenyi left with an arm injury in the 4th inning of a 1-1 game. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The Braves will enjoy the All-Star break, then head to the road for a 10-game trip, with stops in San Diego, St. Louis, and a big 4-game series in Philadelphia.

SUN JULY 10

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ATL_____7___9___3

Season record: 55-35, tied for 1st place in NL East with Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Standings at the All-Star Break:

[motnahp]

.....and the rest:

[motnahp]

The Braves started the road trip by dropping one to the Padres, 5-2. Dick Selma (10-7) picked up the win and Jack Baldschun (9) collected the save. Ed Spiezio (8) homered for San Diego. Pete Smith (8-3) was tagged for 5 runs in 6 innings and took the loss.

FRI JULY 15

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