braves stuff

Paul Maholm, who says he was a big fan of Tom Glavine as a kid in Greenwood, did the old left-hander proud on Friday, throwing a masterful shutout for Atlanta against the New York Mets. Maholm, a ground ball-inducing machine, yielded just three hits. He walked none. The complete game was exactly what the Braves and their stretched bullpen needed. The Mississippi State product is 10-7 overall and 1-1 with the Braves, and his ERA is down to 3.50. Not to be overlooked in the 4-0 win is Jason Heyward’s home run. It was his 19th of the season, a career high for the ex-Mississippi Braves star. He hit 18 in 2010, when he took the league by storm as a rookie. Then came last year’s crash, which left many wondering which was the real Jason Heyward. Well, he seems to have answered that question. His average (.269) could be better, perhaps if he struck out (111 K’s) a bit less, but he has become a scary hitter again. Plus, he’s got 15 stolen bases and is playing very well in right field. So … when will Andrelton Simmons return to the lineup? It might be September, according to reports. The former M-Braves shortstop, who was playing so well for the big league club, has been out since early July with a broken bone in his right hand. The Braves reportedly are targeting the end of August for a rehab assignment. P.S. Itawamba Community College product Desmond Jennings went 3-for-4 and scored three runs for Tampa Bay, which won its fourth in a row on Friday. Good sign? Jennings, often the Rays’ leadoff man, has 51 runs in 88 games. They need more from him as they battle for the playoffs. He’s got eight homers and 19 steals, but his batting average is just .243, on-base percentage .309.