O Fur

Bravos bats were silenced by 36 year old Pedro Astacio - Previously 4-16 lifetime vs. ATL. Astacio, once a promising young pitcher with the Dodgers and Rockies looked like a Cy Young canidate last night as the Nationals blanked the Braves 5-0. Pedro's line: 9IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 5K; 89 pitches.

Braves starter Lance Cormier, pitching in his first big league game since July 1, lasted 4.1 innings.

In follow up to his 3-5 (a homer away from the cycle) performance on Saturday (8/12), Pete Orr went 0-2 after coming into the game in the 6th as a pinch hitter. He stayed in the game to play a few innings of perfect defense at 2B.

Orr Perfect in the Field

Pete Orr's error free season continued with a spotless ninth inning at 3rd base. Smoltzy looked amazing going the complete 9 innings for his 10th win of the year. (9IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 8K).

The victory puts the braves 15 games back in the division and 5 back in the Wild Card hunt.

Bullpen 101

Nothing new about John Smoltz having a good solid outing (7IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 6K), but the breaking news is that the bullpen was able to hold his lead upon his departure.

The two new additions to the 'pen - Danys Baez and Bob Wickman shut down the Pirates to close out the Braves win ---- ending a 4 game skid.

Pete Orr pinch hit for Smoltz in the top of the 8th. He flew out to drop his average to .191. New Brave Willy Aybar appears to be the everyday man at the hot corner while Chipper is on the shelf.