The Worst to First Association

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The Braves dropped their 4th straight and were swept by the Pirates 5-3. Johnny Ray (4), Jason Thompson (6) and Sixto Lezcano (5) all homered for the Bucs. John Candelaria (9-14) picked up the win and Cecilio Guante earned his 28th save. Rick Mahler (9-11) took the loss for the Braves. As Atlanta has lost 4 straight, the Phillies have regained the division lead with a 5-game winning streak. After a much-needed day off on Thursday, the Braves welcome the Expos for a 3-game weekend series.

WED AUG 24

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Season record: 75-53, 2nd place in NL East, 1 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Atlanta tailspin continued with a 5-2 loss to the Expos. Bill Stoneman (10-12) went 8 innings and Roy Face notched his 32nd save. Mack Jones belted a pair of homers (16,17) and Gary Sutherland added one of his own (3). Tom Glavine allowed 5 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings and fell to 12-8.

FRI AUG 26

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[motnahp]

The Braves snapped their losing streak behind the strong right arm of Pete Smith, who tossed his 4th shutout and 5th complete game of the season. The Braves blanked the Expos 6-0, as Smith (12-4) allowed only 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 8. Ron Gant was 4-4 with a pair of doubles, and Ted Simmons went 2-4 with 2 RBI. Jerry Robertson (11-10) took the loss.

SAT AUG 27

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[motnahp]

Dale Murphy broke a 1-1 tie with a 2-run homer (15) in the bottom of the 8th, as the Braves downed the Expos 3-1. The trio of Zane Smith, Paul Assenmacher (7-1) and Bruce Sutter (SV 27) combined to hold Montreal to only 3 hits, all by Rusty Staub. Howie Reed (3-3) took the loss. The Braves take Monday off, then close out the month of August with 2 games against the Giants.

SUN AUG 28

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Season record: 77-54, 2nd place in NL East, 2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Atlee Hammaker (19-6) handcuffed the Braves and the Giants took the series opener 2-1. Mark Davis pitched a scoreless 9th for his 42nd save. Tough-luck Rick Mahler went the distance for the Braves, but falls to 9-12. Mike Sweeney hit his 8th homer for San Fran.

TUE AUG 30

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[motnahp]

Tom Glavine (13-8) outdueled Vida Blue (7-9) and the Braves evened the series with the Giants, winning 1-0. Glavine allowed only 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 10. The lone run scored in the bottom of the 7th. Ozzie Virgil laced a 1-out triple. Ken Oberkfell then singled home pinch runner Albert Hall.

As we hit September 1st, rosters are expanding. John Smoltz, Jeff Blauser, Juan Eichelberger, and 7 others will get the call.

WED AUG 31

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[motnahp]

League standings at the end of August:

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.....and the rest:

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The Braves opened September with a tough, 3-2 loss to the Giants. Pete Smith (12-5) had a 3-hit shutout after 8 innings, but could not close the deal. San Francisco plated 3 runs in the 9th to take the lead. Jeff Robinson (7-3) gets credit for the win, while Mark Davis saved his 43rd game. Newcomer Jody Davis collected 2 hits and drove in a run for the Braves, while Ron Gant was 2-2 with 2 walks and hit his 11th homer. The Braves now hit the road, visiting Philly and New York for 3 game apiece.

THUR SEP 1

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Season record: 78-56, 2nd place in NL East, 2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Lonnie Smith (7) and Ron Gant (12) hit back-to-back homers in the top of the 1st inning and Zane Smith shut down the Philly offense as the Braves took the opener of the 3-game series with the Phils, 5-2. Smith went 7 innings, allowing only a 2-run pinch-hit hoimer by Joe Lis (4) in the 7th. Ken Reynolds (8-12) was the losing pitcher and Bruce Sutter pitched a perfect 9th for his 29th save.

FRI SEP 2

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[motnahp]

Gerald Perry's solo homer (3) in the top of the 8th inning broke a 2-2 tie. The Braves tacked on another on an Andres Thomas sac-fly and beat the Phillies 4-2. With the win, Atlanta draws even with Philadelphia for the NL East lead. Joe Boever (2-2) collected the win in relief. Paul Assenmacher pitched the last 2 innings and earned his 4th save. Bucky Brandon (4-3) took the loss.

SAT SEP 3

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[motnahp]

Steve Carlton (18-7) and 2 relievers stymied the Braves and gave the Phillies a 1-game lead in the division, 5-2. Lonnie Smith's 2-run homer (8) in the top of the 1st gave the Braves an early lead that lasted until the 5th, when the Phils scored 3 times off losing pitcher Rick Mahler (9-13). Philadelphia added 2 more off the Braves' bulpen in the 8th, then turned the game over to Mac Scarce, who notched his 51st save. The Braves now travel to Shea for 3 games against the Mets, while the Phillies host Houston for three.

SUN SEP 4

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Season record: 80-57, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Pinch runner Vince Coleman scored on Joe Orsulak's grounder in the bottom of the 9th to give the Mets a 3-2 win over the Braves. New York starter Dwight Gooden (19-5) was seeking his 20th win of the season. He allowed only 1 run in 8 innings, but closer Mike Maddux could not hold the lead. Maddux (1-2), however, collected the win. Jose Alvarez (4-7) took the loss.

MON SEP 5

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[motnahp]

The Braves and Mets were tied 5-5 after 7 innings, before the Braves erupted for 6 runs in the 8th and 6 more in the 9th and pounding the Mets 17-5. Aa part of a 20-hit attack, Dion James was 4-7 . Dale Murphy went 4-6 with 2 triples and 4 RBI. Ken Oberkfell was 3-6 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI. Ken Griffey was 3-6 with a double and 3 RBI, and Jeff Blauser was 3-4 with 2 RBI and scored 5 runs. September call-up Terry Blocker had a pinch-hit single and 2 RBI in his first at-bat of the season. All New York runs came on homers off Pete Smith (13-5). Jeromy Burnitz went deep twice (8, 9), a 3-run shot and a solo job. Howard Johnson (5) had a solo homer. Smith went 7 innings. Juan Eichelberger and Ed Olwine finished up in the 8th and 9th, respectively. Jeff Innis (2-2) was charged with the loss.

TUE SEP 6

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Ron Gant's solo homer (13) in the top of the 7th was the game's only run, as the Braves took 2 of 3 at Shea, 1-0. Zane Smith (12-8) pitched 6 scoreless innings for the win. Paul Assenmacher (2 IP) and Bruce Sutter (SV 30) finished up. Pete Schourek (7-11) took the tough loss.

The Braves take Thursday off, then open a long homestand, featuring 4 with the Cubs, 3 with the division-leading Phillies, and 3 with the Marlins.

WED SEP 7

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Season record: 82-58, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Braves opened the homestand with a disappointing showing against the last-place Cubs, losing 7-4. Rick Reuschel (6-12) got the win and went 2-4 at the plate, including his 3rd homer. Atlanta starter Rick Mahler (9-14) lasted only 2 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs. Down 5-0, the Braves cut the deficit to 5-4 in the 5th, capped by a bases-loaded triple by Dale Murphy. Joe Boever, however, surrendered solo homers to Ben Grieve (5) and Bill Buckner (10) in the 7th. Ken Reitz (5) also homered for the Cubs. Lee Smith pitched the 9th for his 29th save.

FRI SEP 9

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The Braves lost again to the Cubs at home, 7-3. Mike Krukow (12-10) went 8 innings, allowing only 1 run. Tom Glavine (13-9) allowed 4 runs in 5 innings. Barry Foote was 3-3 with a homer (3) and 3 RBI. Ron Gant (14) and Ozzie Virgil (6) homered for the Braves.

SAT SEP 10

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[motnahp]

The Braves were held to only 3 hits, but bunched them together in the 6th inning and beat the Cubs 3-2. Gary Roenicke hit a 2-run homer (3) and Gerald Perry added an RBI double. Pete Smith went 8 innings for the win, improving to 14-5. Bruce Sutter collected his 31st save. Ken Kravec, who took a no-hitter into the 6th inning, took the loss and falls to 4-12.

SUN SEP 11

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[motnahp]

Zane Smith (13-8) shut down the Cubs and the Braves earned a split of the 4-game series, 5-1. Dale Murphy had a 2-run homer (16), Jeff Blauser was 3-3 with an RBI, and Lonnie Smith went 2-4 with a double and RBI. Bill Buckner homered (10) for the lone Chicago run. Lynn McGlothen (6-15) took the loss.

MON SEP 12

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Season record: 84-60, 2nd place in NL East, 3 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Braves opened a 3-game series with the Phillies with a dramatic 2-1 win. Trailing 1-0 entering the 9th, Atlanta scored twice off Philly closer Mac Scarce. With one out, Roon Gant doubled. Dale Murphy followed with a double of his own, tying the score. Following a walk to Lonnie Smith Scarce (0-4) gave up a double to Ozzie Virgil and Murphy scored the winning run. Bruce Sutter (6-3) was summoned in the top of the 9th with no one out and runners on the corners. He retired the side without any runs scoring and earned the victory.

TUE SEP 13

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