Game 2 of the Doubleheader - Nationals 4, Braves 3

Well game two didn't go quite as well as game one, but there was some good signs. Unfortunately, Chris Reitsma wasn't one of them.

John Thomson looked much better today than he did in his last outing. I realize it's the Nationals he's facing, but he did allow just two runs over 6 innings.

The Braves did manage to bang out 11 hits off Livan Hernandez and company, even with many of their backup players starting...Orr, Betemit, Hollandsworth. In fact, Betemit picked up four of those hits in a perfect 4 for 4 evening.

Jeff Francoeur pinch hit for Blaine Boyer in the 7th inning and actually walked! Yes, a pinch hit walk for Mr. Francoeur. Stop the presses! Believe it or not, Jeff actually has four walks in his last six games. Not too shabby.

Back to Reitsma, anyone else get as nervous as me when Chris enters the game? In all fairness to him though, McCann's throwing error didn't help the situation.

Anyway, a split wasn't so bad tonight. Atlanta still remains four games ahead of Philadelphia who beat the Mets and Pedro Martinez tonight, 8-2.

Tomorrow night, the Braves send John Smoltz to the hill to take on Washington's Tony Armas. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with some pre-game analysis.