(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
The move allows Escobar a few more RBI chances by sliding him down to fifth or sixth in the order. Kotchman has enough plate discipline to hit just about anywhere from second to eighth, and it's rare to see the power he showed on his fourth inning home run to right. He got all of it.
When Nate McLouth returns to the lineup, hopefully this weekend or early next week, it will make the Braves a more formidable group. Braves fans also hope that in two or three weeks, the return of Omar Infante from the DL will further improve the Braves' offensive production.
If I'm Cox, I'm seriously considering having an outfield of Infante-McLouth-Diaz, at least a few days a week, and cutting into Francoeur's playing time.
But, for this series, and this day, Cox showed exactly why he's won 2,300 some games in the majors. He pushed all the right buttons with the bullpen, his lineup, and his late-game substitutions.
The Braves finished the key 10-game homestand against the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies at 6-4.
If the Braves can match that record over the next 10 games on their final first half road-trip (three at Washington, three at Chicago, four at Colorado) the Braves will be right at .500 heading to the All-Star Break.
Despite being two games under .500 right now and in fourth place in the NL, the Braves sit just two games back of both Florida and Philadelphia, and one game back of the Mets, who face the Phillies this weekend.
The Braves seem to have the edge in all three pitching match-ups this weekend against the Nationals. If the Braves can somehow extend their now four-game winning streak to six games or longer, they'll have to really like their chances after the All-Star break.
Friday, July 3: Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.25) vs. Ross Detwiler (0-4, 5.24)
Saturday, July 4: Tommy Hanson (4-0, 2.48) vs. John Lannan (5-5, 3.45)
Sunday, July 5: Derek Lowe (7-6, 4.44) vs. Scott Olsen (1-4, 6.56).
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