Gone With the Loss: Will a Poor Showing Against Philly Ruin Atlanta's Focus?

Losing two of three to the league-leading Phillies hurts. No doubt it hurts. In the end, however, the Braves only lost one game in the standings.

They should have won Friday night. I was scratching my head as Bobby Cox sent Rafael Soriano to the mound to face Howard and Ibanez just one inning after Mike Gonzalez made Chase Utley look silly. Howard was 1-for-12 against Gonzalez; yet the slumping Soriano was allowed to face him. He allowed the game-winning HR to ball-killer.

On Saturday the Braves got lucky, but we'll take it. Brad Lidge continued his terrible season allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 Braves win.

Sunday, J.A. Happ and Howard did the Braves in with their ace, Javier Vazquez on the mound. Tip your cap to the 'Phils and move on.

In the past when the Braves have come off of a hot streak to lose two of three they have hit a swoon. This time, that cannot happen.

The Braves will play Arizona today in a makeup game from May and then go to New York for three against the Mets. The Braves are only three-and-a-half games back in the Wild Card and by winning these next four can keep the pressure on the Rockies, Giants, Marlins and Cubs.

A late August swoon would end all postseason hopes for the Braves. They simply cannot allow that to happen.

Playing without Nate McLouth, Martin Prado, and Rafael Soriano the next few days will be a tall order, but expect on of that trio to be disabled soon to allow for reinforcements. Luckily the rosters expand in two weeks, as well.

Tommy Hanson gets the start today. He will try to stop the bleeding, and start a new winning streak. Max Scherzer gets the nod for the D-Backs.

There's no better time than the present for Atlanta. Actually there's no choice but the present to make some noise.