Braves run win streak to seven

By CARROLL ROGERS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If the 2-1/2 weeks the Braves had used to narrow the wild card lead down to these precious two games weren't convincing enough, then maybe Monday night was.

The Braves are not kidding about this playoff business, and they can see it from here.

With the Rockies idle, the Braves beat the Marlins 4-0 Monday to extend their winning streak to seven games after winning 15 of their past 17. They are only two games behind the Rockies in the wild card race with six games to play.

They keep this up? They could be playing the Rockies in a one-game playoff next Monday at Turner Field. Or more.

After a Phillies' loss Monday, the Braves are only four games out in the NL East.

"That might be stretching it," manager Bobby Cox said. "A little miracle. But who knows?"

In the meantime, the Braves plan to keep doing exactly what they've been doing. The formula of late has been to score early and ride their starting pitching. That worked again with seven shutout innings from Jair Jurrjens and a couple early gift from the Marlins.

Anibal Sanchez walked the bases loaded to start the game, allowing the Braves two first-inning runs without a hit. Sanchez walked eight in the game. By the eighth inning, the Braves had drawn a season-high 11 passes, using the last one to force in a run on Nate McLouth's bases loaded walk.

Chipper Jones supplied the Braves' first hit by taking Sanchez halfway up the right field foul pole in the third inning for his 18^th home run of the year. He needs two more home runs to set the major league record for most consecutive 20-homer seasons to start a career. He's tied with former Brave Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews at 14.

"Right now we feel like we're in control," Jones said. "We're dictating at-bats whether it be on the mound or whether we're hitting. And a lot of good things are happening."

The only disappointment might have been the size of the crowd. An announced 25,046 showed up at Turner Field, which was more in line with a sparse crowd scared off by rain than one inspired by an improbable playoff shot.

"The crowd was into it really well tonight," Cox said. "I don't know how many were here, but hopefully we'll have more tomorrow and during the weekend."

Jurrjens pulled his best Javier Vazquez imitation by moving to 4-0 in his past four starts. He's given up only two earned runs in 29 innings over that time (0.62 ERA), while improving his season record to 14-10.

"I can make my dad's dream come true right now if I get to the playoffs," said Jurrjens who grew up a Braves fan in his native Curacao. "My mom said he's put the travel bag out already."

Jurrjens said he struggled with the grip on his changeup, given a chill in the air and slick baseballs. But he took advantage of the wind blowing in and having McLouth out there to chase everything down in center field.

Jurrjens did his best work to get out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings. He struck out the Marlins' most dangerous hitter in Hanley Ramirez in the sixth on his way to retiring the side.

In the seventh, he worked around a ground-rule double to Dan Uggla, stranding him at third by retiring the next three hitters on a flyout, a strikeout and a groundout.

Peter Moylan then came on to make his franchise record 85th appearance in a scoreless eighth, working around a walk to Ramirez.

"This time of year the only thing I'm worried about is the record of the team," Moylan said. "…I haven't felt like this. I've never had the nervousness, the adrenaline pumping the first through the sixth inning. It's crazy. This is the reason you play I guess. It's awesome."