Adam Ulrey's Montreal Expos Diary

July 11, 2002 - Game 88
Braves take the first game of series 8-5

The Atlanta Braves picked right where they left off. Andruw Jones and Gary Sheffield hit three-run homers Thursday as the Braves returned from the All-Star break by beating the Montreal Expos 8-5. Atlanta won for the 38th time in the last 49 games to open a 10 1/2 game lead over the second-place Montreal in the NL East. The Braves improved on their best record in the major leagues at 57-32.

Kevin Millwood won his fifth straight decision despite allowing three homeruns to the Expos. He went six innings, giving up six hits and four runs, but did strike out six to run his record to 7-5. Vladimir Guerrero did all he could hitting two homers and driving in three runs, but the Expos pitching failed them as Tony Armas Jr. was racked. He gave up six hits and seven runs in just five innings, as the Braves took advantage of all eight hits. Sheffield after a slow start now has 16 homers and 50 RBIs for the year. He tends to have big second halves of the season, and if you're an Expos fan that's bad news.

The big news of the day was that the Expos acquired Cliff Floyd from the Marlins for Carl Pavano, Graeme Lloyd, Mike Mordecai and minor leaguer Justin Wayne. They also got Wilton Guerrero from the Reds.

The Braves didn't take long to get to Armas Jr., by scoring four runs in the first courtesy of Sheffield's homer. "It's awful tough against any ball club but when you're going against the best ball club in the division and you spot them four, it's tough to come back from that in the first inning," Expos manager Frank Robinson said.

Brian Schneider and Andres Galarraga each hit solo homers to help keep the game close, but in the end the Braves had too much for the Expos.