--3B Chipper Jones hit his 12th home run of the season, the 398th of his career, before having to leave Wednesday's game in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on his right shin. He is day-to-day.

--RF Jeff Francoeur was back in the lineup Wednesday after missing his first start after 360 consecutive starts, the same game that ended his streak of 370 games played. Francoeur said it felt weird to be watching the game from the bench. The time off evidently helped: He drove in four runs on three hits Wednesday.

--SS Yunel Escobar's right knee, banged against the head of the Mets' Ryan Church on the last play of the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, is stiff but not damaged. Manager Bobby Cox gave him Wednesday off, starting INF Omar Infante at short.

--RHP Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless inning for Class AA Mississippi on Wednesday, giving up one hit and one walk and striking out one. He is scheduled to pitch an inning Friday as well.

--RHP John Smoltz has, it seems, come up with an arm angle that allows him to pitch without constant pain. He was throwing in the bullpen before Wednesday's game against the Mets, the second consecutive day he had thrown.

BY THE NUMBERS
111 -- Number of the Braves' first 500 runners of the season who have been driven home.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're not bad here. We stink on the road. Plain and simple." -- 3B Chipper Jones, on the Braves' horrendous road record.

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