Manager Bobby Cox said John Smoltz's balky shoulder was "pretty sore" Tuesday after he returned from the disabled list and pitched a rough relief inning Monday against the Marlins.

Smoltz didn't address media members before Tuesday's game.

"Not bad, not good," Cox said of Smoltz's day-after discomfort. "He's pretty sore."

It was the first relief appearance in 44 months for Smoltz, who has moved back to the bullpen from his preferred starting role as a concession to the persistent pain in his throwing shoulder.

Smoltz, 41, has also modified his delivery, pitching from the side instead of overhand, against because of the shoulder pain.

He was charged with two runs, three hits and a blown save after blowing a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning Monday, but the Braves won 7-5 on Yunel Escobar's walk-off homer in the 10th. Smoltz's fastball was clocked at 95 mph, but he said afterward that he was too "amped up" and didn't have the feel for his pitches, not unexpected in his first game back.

Smoltz isn't likely to pitch in back-to-back games initially, and Cox will talk to him each day to see how he feels. For now, he'll likely share closer duties with Rafael Soriano and Manny Acosta.

Jones targets "mechanical flaw"

You wouldn't expect a guy batting over .400 nearly 60 games into the season to have any reason for concern about his hitting.

But Chipper Jones knew that hitting a mess of singles wasn't his optimum role, and the third baseman had only one extra-base hit and one RBI in his past 11 games before Tuesday.

"It's a little mechanical flaw I'm going through right now," said Jones, who was 15-for-38 (.395) with 14 singles, a double and 11 walks in that 11-game span. "I'm not able to elevate the ball, and when I do I elevate too much.

"I hate to snipe about a line-drive swing, but they don't pay me to hit singles. It bothers me that I haven't hit more [homers] lately. But it'll come. It's getting close."

He made that statement before batting practice, and Jones apparently wasn't kidding being close: He hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat Tuesday night off Marlins right-hander Burke Badenhop.

Kotsay: No timetable for return

Center fielder Mark Kotsay said his back spasms haven't improved in nine days and he doesn't know when he'll be back in the lineup, which he knows isn't a comforting thought for those mindful of his March 2007 back surgery.

"It's day-to-day," said Kotsay, who hasn't played since May 25. "We're doing all the necessary treatments, trying to get me back as soon as possible. It's a mental grind. I'm sure everybody's wondering what's going on. But until these spasms break up. ..."