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Braves Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Take a deep breath and relax. Right fielder Jeff Francoeur has not been demoted the way you think he has. Especially not all the way to Class AA Mississippi.

That destination was his choice. General manager Frank Wren asked Francoeur where he thought he'd feel most comfortable working on getting his swing back, and Francoeur produced some of his best offense under M-Braves manager Phillip Wellman.

Going down in the first place, though, was not Francoeur's choice.

Wren started thinking about that three weeks ago, and the conviction grew last weekend when the team was in Toronto. Francoeur's 1-for-12 performance in the Phillies series sealed it.

Wren and manager Bobby Cox handled it as sensitively as possible, delaying telling Francoeur until the press left...

Perry helps Braves beat Astros to end skid (AP)

The Atlanta Braves were feeling down after five straight losses and the demotion of popular teammate Jeff Francoeur. How down? The Braves hadn't led a game in a week. Jason Perry's debut as the fill-in for Francoeur helped end the drought. Perry hit a run-scoring triple in his first major league at-bat, Tim Hudson gave up only one run in seven innings and the Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 Friday...

Braves' Francoeur is sent to minors (AP)

The Atlanta Braves decided their hometown favorite needed to get away from home -- and away from the major leagues -- to work his way through the worst slump of his career. Outfielder Jeff Francoeur, hitting only .234, was sent to Double-A Mississippi on Friday and told he'd be recalled within three weeks.

Braves send RF Francoeur to minors (PA SportsTicker)

The Atlanta Braves on Friday sent slumping right fielder Jeff Francoeur to Class AA Mississippi of the Southern League.

Hamels, Phillies complete another sweep in Atlanta (AP)

After Cole Hamels fell one out shy of his bid for a second shutout of the Braves this season, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel's emphasis turned to protecting the young left-hander for the rest of the year. Hamels, who earned his first career shutout against the Braves on May 15, gave up his only run with two outs in the ninth, and Philadelphia beat the Braves 4-1 on Thursday night to complete its...

Glavine encouraged by reduced pain in elbow (AP)

Tom Glavine said he is encouraged about the reduced pain in his left elbow after some aggressive exercises on Wednesday, and the Braves pitcher hopes to begin throwing off the mound in about two weeks. Glavine was placed on the disabled list June 11 with a tear in his flexor tendon. He said if he continues to improve he should be able to begin throwing soon after the All-Star break.

Braves activate infielder Prado from DL (AP)

The Braves activated infielder Martin Prado from the disabled list Thursday and optioned infielder Brent Lillibridge to Triple-A Richmond. Manager Bobby Cox listed Prado as the starter at second base against the Phillies, but he watched Prado take batting practice before announcing the move. Prado missed 55 games since he was placed on the disabled list on May 5 with a sprained left thumb.

Howard's 3-run homer powers Phillies past Braves (AP)

No first baseman in the major leagues has more errors than Ryan Howard's nine, and that worries Charlie Manuel. No player in the National League can match Howard's 71 RBIs, and that makes Manuel feel better. Howard hit a three-run homer before his two errors in the ninth inning gave Philadelphia a scare, Pat Burrell added his second homer of the series and the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3...

Braves could soon face decision on Teixeira (AP)

Mark Teixeira's future with the Atlanta Braves is difficult to predict. The Braves matched their low point of the season at four games under .500 with Tuesday night's loss to Philadelphia. Should they fall further behind the Phillies before the July 31 deadline to trade a player without securing waivers, they might consider dealing their cleanup hitter.

Victorino, Phillies continue mastery of Braves (AP)

Kyle Kendrick and the Philadelphia Phillies emerged from their interleague blahs to resume their mastery of the Atlanta Braves, ruining the surprise return of Chipper Jones. Shane Victorino hit a home run and drove in four runs and Kendrick and the Phillies beat the Braves 8-3 on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten at Turner Field this season.

Chipper Jones, Kotsay return to Braves lineup (AP)

Chipper Jones, expected to be placed on the disabled list Tuesday, instead was back in the lineup for the Atlanta Braves. Jones missed eight straight starts with a strained right quadriceps. Because of the continued discomfort, Jones feared he would be placed on the DL as the Braves opened an important series against the NL East-leading Phillies on Tuesday night.

Braves 3B Jones returns to lineup (PA SportsTicker)

After making a remarkable recovery in the last 48 hours, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pass out the midterm report cards (Yahoo! Sports)

We don't grade on a curve, and that's why only the Rays get an A-plus while three teams are given Fs.

Blue Jays' Burnett pitches 7 shutout innings (AP)

With his curveball diving and his fastball topping out at 96 miles per hour, A.J. Burnett made life easy on catcher Rod Barajas, and rough on the undermanned Atlanta Braves. Burnett pitched seven shutout innings, Alex Rios drove in the only run of the game and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Braves 1-0 on Sunday.

Wells leads Toronto Blue Jays past Atlanta Braves (AP)

It's not often that Atlanta's Tim Hudson gives up a home run. When he does, he usually loses. Hudson surrendered homers to Vernon Wells and Rod Barajas and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Braves 9-5 on Saturday, dropping Hudson to 1-5 this season when he gives up a home run. Wells, who had three RBIs, led off Toronto's four-run sixth with his eighth homer of the year.

Injuries force Braves to use 3 rookies in rotation (AP)

Tim Hudson stood at his locker this week, trying to think back to the days when Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz were the mainstays of the Atlanta Braves' rotation. Hudson needed to dig deeper and deeper in history. "For young guys to come in six, or eight, or I guess it was 10 years ago, that would have been pretty intimidating for a young guy," Hudson said.

Teixeira homers in Braves' 4-0 win over Jays (AP)

Bobby Cox has seen plenty of fine pitching performances as manager of the Atlanta Braves, but few as good as the one Jair Jurrjens delivered Friday night. Jurrjens worked eight innings, extending his scoreless innings streak to 21 2-3, and Mark Teixeira backed him with a homer and three RBIs as the Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0.

Braves hoping for return of some injured players (AP)

The Atlanta Braves finished their homestand with a patchwork starting lineup. They hope to have a few familiar names back on the field when they play their next home game. The Braves, who left Atlanta on Thursday only 4 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East, must be wondering where they might be in the standings if not for the rash of injuries that have filled the first three...

Johnson powers Braves past Brewers 4-2 (AP)

Chipper Jones missed his fifth straight start, which usually means a loss for the Braves. Kelly Johnson, his replacement in the No. 3 spot of Atlanta's batting order, filled the void. Johnson drove in three runs to back Jorge Campillo, and the banged-up Braves rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 Wednesday and avoid getting swept in the three-game series.

Escobar injures shoulder, Infante hurts hamstring (AP)

Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar was held out of Wednesday's starting lineup against Milwaukee after jamming his left shoulder the previous night and his replacement, Omar Infante, came out of the game because of a strained right hamstring. Rookie shortstop Brent Lillibridge entered as a pinch runner after Infante got hurt while running out a double in the second inning.

Bush, Brewers hold off Braves (AP)

The Milwaukee Brewers suddenly are winning consistently on the road. That doesn't mean they're making it look easy. Salomon Torres and the Brewers had to survive a scary ninth inning before beating the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Tuesday night. Dave Bush earned his first road victory of the season, scattering four hits over seven innings, but had to watch in the ninth as Torres almost blew a 4-1 lead and...

Smoltz keeping comeback hopes warm (AP)

John Smoltz is keeping his right arm numb and his hopes for a comeback warm. Smoltz, who had season-ending shoulder surgery on June 10, spoke Tuesday while wearing a compression sleeve that keeps his arm a frigid 32 degrees. He's happy with the high-tech device which he said allowed him to sleep for five hours -- his longest yet -- on Monday night while cutting back on pain medication.

Braves complete trade for Norton (AP)

The Braves completed their May 5 trade for first baseman-outfielder Greg Norton by sending minor league left-handed pitcher Nelson Payano to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Payano, 25, was 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 27 games for Double-A Mississippi. He spent most of the 2007 season at Class A Myrtle Beach, where he was 4-4 with a 3.56 ERA.

Scioscia is guardian of the Angels (Yahoo! Sports)

Manager oversees his ballclub with fairness and consistency, yet he knows that each player requires a different touch.

Sheets throws complete game, Brewers beat Braves (AP)

The best stat of the night for Milwaukee manager Ned Yost was the "zero" for pitches thrown in the bullpen by his relievers. No relief necessary. Ben Sheets was on the mound. Sheets gave up only four hits in a dominant complete-game performance, Mike Cameron hit a two-run homer and the Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Monday night.