Diory Hernandez News

Tim Hudson took another step in his elbow-surgery rehab Monday when he faced Braves hitters in an early afternoon round of batting practice at Wrigley Field.

Atlanta Braves shortstop Diory Hernandez, left, jumps into the air to avoid Boston Red Sox's Brad Penny as he turns a double play on a ball off the bat of Boston's Dustin Pedroia during the fifth inning yesterday at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:20am EDT - Boston Red Sox runner Jason Varitek slides in safe at second with a double as Atlanta Braves Diory Hernandez applies a late tag in the seventh inning of their MLB Inter-League baseball game in Atlanta, Georgia, June 28, 2009.

Atlanta Braves' Diory Hernandez, right, scores on a Yunel Escobar base hit as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Paul Bako, left, makes the late tag in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Atlanta, Wednesday July 1, 2009.

Tommy Hanson was very much aware of who he'd be facing in these two starts. It didn't faze him a bit.

The Sox managed just four runs off young starter Jair Jurrjens , but were creative in their accounting.

No problem when he's facing the Braves. Beckett pitched seven more scoreless innings against his favorite opponent and David Ortiz homered, leading the first-place Boston Red Sox past slumping Atlanta 4-1 on Friday night.

Rodriguez, who has driven in six runs over his past seven at-bats, gave the Yankees a 10-6 lead with a two-run single in the seventh off reliever Peter Moylan .

As the Braves navigate their way through this challenging homestand, they can feel thankful that their new center fielder has pointed them in the right direction.

The standings which show the Atlanta Braves falling fast in the NL East are not the only cause for concern.

Braves manager Bobby Cox conjured up memories of benching a young Andruw Jones for loafing in center field when he sat Yunel Escobar after Escobar made two key mistakes in the field Sunday afternoon.

He pocketed No. 299 on Wednesday night, in his third attempt. Johnson pitched six strong innings as the Giants pounded out 14 hits on their way to a 6-3 victory over Atlanta before 27,744 spectators at China Basin.

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones continues to play with a sore big right toe that is hampering his movement.

Jones delivered a pinch-hit bases-loaded single in the seventh inning, sparking a seven-run outburst, as the Braves finished off an interleague sweep of Toronto with a 10-2 victory.

The Braves thought they were getting Yunel Escobar back in their lineup Thursday at Arizona, and hoped the shortstop could stay healthy and energize an offense that looked moribund at San Francisco.

With Omar Infante sidelined until after the All-Star break, the Braves aren't in a position where they could comfortably place Yunel Escobar on the 15-day disabled list.

Tim Lincecum blanked Atlanta on five hits through eight innings Tuesday night as the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves to collect a series victory, 4-0. Lincecum has won each of his five career starts against Atlanta, which has lost six of its past seven games at AT&T Park dating back to 2007.

Atlanta Top 5th - Jordan Schafer struck out swinging. None on with two outs and Javier Vazquez due up.

The Atlanta Braves will be without starting infielders Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar for the final game of a weekend series against Toronto.

Brian McCann went 3-for-4 with a pair of homers and four runs batted in, as Atlanta used a seven-run seventh inning to crush Toronto, 10-2, and complete the three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.