Atlanta 14, Red Sux 0

Game Notes...

- Something weird happened on the way to the park today. The Red Sox said to themselves, "well, being we are so close to Haaavard, we should be smart about this. Oh, I got it! We will focus entirely on the game with Dice-K against some French guy. LaRue? Lerew? Whoever." Meanwhile, the Braves said to themselves, "Ya know, we got Smoltzie on the mound and we just hate to waste his great effort. And being from the south, what kind of guests would we be if we did not give the Red Sox their moment? We will focus on the second game and let the first Jap since that hot dog eating guy have his way with an American sport." It worked.

- John Smoltz is from another era. Five days after dislocating his pinky on his pitching hand, Smoltzie allowed three hits, a walk, and struck out seven. He did throw two wild pitches and seemed to struggle to have his control popping in the first, but after that, he was the Smoltzie we all love and cheer. He improved to 6-2, lowers his ERA under 3.00, and is now 17th all-time in strikeouts. In slightly over 20 innings at Fenway, hardly a pitcher's haven, the man, the myth, the balding hero has now allowed a run. I guess what I'm saying is: Smoltzie, did you ever know you're my hero? (the Bette Midler in us all begins to sing)

- Chipper Jones got it started early with his 12th homerun. He went 3 for 5, but oddly did not have one of the _EIGHT_ doubles the Braves cranked out. Brian McCann had three of them and drove in a pair while Matt Diaz doubled and homered, showing unusual power for the singles machine.

- KJ busted out of his slump that had him at .265 at one point with a double, a homer, and a triple in that order. He was not able to get the single, but drove in five runs.

- Salty got the start at DH and had his first extra base hit, predictably a double, and drove in a run.

- According to the announcers, Andruw Jones was scratched with a sore back. Oddly, when the lineup was originally announced, it was Brian McCann in Andruw's usual cleanup spot with Andruw demoted to sixth. Was his back hurting or his ego? Guess we'll find out tomorrow.