The Worst to First Association

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The Braves dropped their 2nd straight game against the Padres, 7-4 in San Diego. Tommie Sisk improved to 9-3 with the win. Frank Reberber pitched a scoreless 9th for his 23rd save. Ed Spiezio (9) and Tony Gonzalez (2) homered off losing pitcher Zane Smith, who allowed 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings. The loss was incorrectly awarded to Jose Alvarez, who allowed runs 6 and 7. He falls to 3-3. Ron Gant had a 2-run triple for the Braves.

SAT JULY 16

ATL_____4___6___1
SD______7__14___4

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The Braves board the plane for St. Louis and attempt to remove the straw from their behinds, after getting swept by the Padres. San Diego edged Atlanta 3-2, as Al Santorini improved to 7-5 on the mound and Frank Reberger notched save number 24. The Padres scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 3rd off losing pitcher Rick Mahler (7-7).

SUN JULY 17

ATL_____2___8___1
SD______3___5___0

Season record: 55-38, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

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Eric Rasmussen (4-8) and Mark Littell (SV 24) combined on a one-hitter as the Cardinals blanked the slumping Braves 2-0. Rasmussen struck out 5 and walked only 1. The lone Braves' hit was a 4th inning single by Jerry Royster. Tom Glavine went the distance and allowed only 1 earned run, but fell to 9-7.

MON JULY 18

ATL_____0___1___1
STL_____2___6___0

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Tommy Gregg's 2-run homer (1) in the 7th inning broke a 1-1 tie and the Braves snapped their 4-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Charlie Puleo made his first appearance in 13 days. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing only 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking no one. His record is now 9-3. Bruce Sutter pitched a scoreless 9th for his 19th save. Keith Hernandez homered for the Cards, his 7th of the season. Silvio Martinez (4-6) was the losing pitcher.

TUE JULY 19

ATL_____3___9___0
STL_____1___6___0

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Andres Thomas belted a 3-run homer (2) in the top of the 7th to erase a 7-5 St. Louis lead, as the Braves won a wild one at Busch, 8-7. Atlanta led 5-0 behind Pete Smith, who was aided by two Ted Simmons solo homers (5,6). Smith lost the lead in the bottom of the 5th, as the Cardinals struck for 5 runs, including a 3-run homer by Lou Brock (3). Smith allowed 2 more runs in the 6th with no one out. Atlanta got 4 innings of scoreless relief from Chuck Cary (1-1), Jose Alvarez, and Bruce Sutter (SV 20). Joh Urrea (2-4) took the loss for the Cardinals.

The Braves will take Thursday off, then travel to Philly for an important 4-game set with the Phillies.

WED JULY 20

ATL_____8___11___1
STL_____7___14___0

Season record: 57-39, tied for 1st place in NL East with Philadelphia

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Woody Fryman stifled the Braves, holding them to 3 hits, as the Phillies pounded Atlanta pitching for 15 hits and won the opener 7-1. Fryman (12-7) allowed only 1 hit through 8 innings, before Jeff Blauser led off the 9th with a solo homer (2). For the Phillies, Larry Bowa was 4-5 with 3 runs scored, Greg Luzinski 3-5 with an RBI, Mike Anderson 2-4 with a 2-run triple, while Willie Montanez had a double and an RBI, and Don Money drove in two with a single. Zane Smith took the loss for the Braves and falls to 7-7.

FRI JULY 22

ATL_____1___3___0
PHI_____7__15___0

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Dale Murphy's 2-run homer (11) in the 8th inning broke a 1-1 tie and the Braves went on to deceat the Phillies 4-1. Rick Mahler went 8 1/3 innings and improved to 8-7. Mahler allowed only 6 hits, struck out 5, and walked no one. He also knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 9th. Bruce Sutter recorded the final two outs for his 21st save. Murphy was 2-4 overall with 3 RBI. Wayne Twitchell (6-5) took the loss for Philadelphia. The two teams are again tied for 1st place in the NL East.

SAT JULY 23

ATL_____4___8___0
PHI_____2___7___0

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Tim McCarver doubled home Tom Hutton with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, pushing the Phillies past the Braves 2-1. Atlanta stranded 9 runners in the game. They loaded the bases in both the 1st and 6th innings, but did not score. Dick Selma (4-4) pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief to get the win. Jose Alvarez (3-4) failed to retire a batter in the 9th and took the loss.

SUN JUL 24

ATL_____1___8___0
PHI_____2___7___0

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Steve Carlton (14-3), John Montague, and Mac Scarce (SV 36) combined to limit the Braves to only 3 hits, as the Phillies took 3 out of 4 from Atlanta, 2-0. Philly's runs came via a solo homer from Greg Luzinski (8) in the bottom of the 6th, and an RBI triple off the bat of Deron Johnson in the bottom of the 8th, both off losing pitcher Paul Assenmacher (4-1). Following a 3-7 road trip, the Braves return home to face the Marlins and Mets for 3 games each to end the month.

MON JUL 25

ATL_____0___3___0
PHI_____2___8___0

Season record: 58-42, 2nd place in NL East, 2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

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The Braves returned home and were again shut out on 3 hits, this time by the trio of Livan Hernandez (11-9), Vic Darensbourg, and Matt Mantei (SV 19). The game's only run came on a Bobby Bonilla sacrifice fly in the top of the 7th. Pete Smith (8-4) was the tough-luck loser.

TUE JULY 26

FLA_____1___5___0
ATL_____0___3___1

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Gary Sheffield's 3-run homer (5) in the top of the 10th off Jose Alvarez (3-5) gave the Marlins a 6-3 win over the Braves. Atlanta erased a 3-1 Marlins' lead with single runs in the 8th and 9th, but fell for the 4th straight game. Since the All-Star Break, Atlanta has struggled, with a 3-9 record. In the losing cause, Dion James was 3-5 with a double, Ken Oberkfell 3-4 with an RBI, and Ken Griffey 1-4 with a 2-run double.

WED JULY 27

FLA_____6___9___0 (10 innings)
ATL_____3__10___1

[motnahp]

The Florida Marlins completed a 3-game sweep, shutting out the Braves 3-0. Atlanta has now been shut out in 3 of their last 4 games. Turning the trick this time was Jesus Sanchez (8-6, 6 IP), Jay Powell (2 IP), and Matt Mantei (SV 20). Rick Mahler was the "lack of support" victim this time, dropping his record to 8-8.

The Braves now host the Mets for 3 games to end the month of July.

THUR JUL 28

FLA_____3___10___0
ATL_____0____9___0

Season record: 58-45, 2nd place in NL East, 4 GB 1st place Philadelphia

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The Atlanta bats awakened, pounding out 17 hits, as the Braves topped the Mets 8-3. Dion James went 3-4 with an RBI. Lonnie Smith was 3-5 with 2 RBI. Ted Simmons was 3-4, and Andres Thomas went 3-4 with an RBI. Tom Glavine went 7 innings and improved to 10-7. Chuck Cary and Paul Assenmacher each pitched a perfect inning of relief. Pete Schourek falls to 7-10 with the loss. Bobby Bonilla cracked his 16th homer for the Mets.

FRI JULY 29

NYM_____3___10___1
ATL_____8___17___1

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Four Atlanta pitchers combined on a 2-hit shutout of the Mets, 5-0. Charlie Puleo (5 IP), Jim Acker (2 IP, 4-2), Paul Assenmacher (1 IP) and Bruce Sutter (1 IP) did the honors. Lonnie Smith was 2-4 and connected for his 5th homer of the season off losing pitcher Frank Tanana (9-9). Ken Oberkfell was also 2-4 for the Braves.

SAT JULY 30

NYM_____0___2___2
ATL_____5___9___0

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The Braves completed a 3-game sweep of the Mets behind the shutout pitching of Pete Smith. The righthander picked up his 3rd shutout and 4th complete game of the season, allowing only 5 hits, walking 3, and striking out 3. Dwight Gooden, who entered the game 16-2 with a 1.85 ERA was touched up for 4 runs in only 5 innings. Atlanta added 5 more runs against the Met bullpen and won 9-0. Ozzie Virgil led the way, going 3-5 with a double and 3 RBI. Gerald Perry was 3-5 with a double and RBI. Ken Oberkfell, Dion James, and the red-hot Andres Thomas each chipped in with 2 hits. The Braves will take Monday off, then open a 3-game series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

SUN JULY 31

NYM_____0___5___1
ATL_____9__16___0

Season record: 61-45, 2nd place in NL East, 4 GB 1st place Philadelphia

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Standings at the end of July 1988:

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.....and the rest:

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The Braves posted their 3rd straight shutout, as Zane Smith (8-7) held Pittsburgh to only 2 hits. Atlanta topped the Pirates 5-0, as Smith walked one and struck out 5. It was Smith's first shotout of the season and second complete game. Ken Oberkfell was 2-5 with an RBI triple, Ron Gant also went 2-5, and Ken Griffey was 1-2 with 2 walks and 2 RBI. Jose DeLeon (9-7) took the loss.

TUE AUG 2

ATL_____5___7___0
PIT_____0___2___2

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Larry McWilliams (2-1) and 3 relievers combined to shut out the Braves on 3 hits, 1-0. The game's only run came in the bottom of the 6th on a Bill Almon Sacrifice fly. Rick Mahler (8-9) took the loss for Atlanta.

WED AUG 3

ATL_____0___3___0
PIT_____1___7___0

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Tom Glavine (6 IP, 11-7) and Joe Boever (3 IP, SV 1) combined to shut down the Pirates, as the Braves won 7-2. Jerry Royster was 2-5 with a double and 3 RBI, Dale Murphy had an RBI double, and Ken Oberkfell was 2-4 with a double and RBI. Lee Tunnell (3-7) took the loss for Pittsburgh. The Braves now travel to Cincinnati for three with the Reds.

THUR AUG 4

ATL_____7___11___0
PIT_____2____6___0

Season record: 63-46, 2nd place in NL East, 3 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia