high hurdles

Tonight, it’s Cliff Lee. On Tuesday, Roy Oswalt. The run-starved Atlanta Braves, trying to nail down the National League wild card, face those two former Mississippi junior college stars, plus the Philadelphia Phillies’ vaunted lineup, in their next two games. Then they get hot rookie Vance Worley on Wednesday. Atlanta has a 1-game lead on St. Louis, which finishes with three games against the worst team in baseball, Houston. This is a tough row to hoe for the Braves. Lee, a Meridian Community College alumnus, is 16-8 with a 2.38 ERA and is still in the NL Cy Young conversation. Oswalt, out of Holmes CC, hasn’t had a great year (8-10, 3.86) but is capable of a great outing at any time. Stay tuned.
P.S. Jackson’s Seth Smith contributed three hits to Colorado’s franchise record 25 on Sunday. The Rockies, winding up a disappointing year, beat Houston 19-3. Smith, finishing off a good year, raised his average to .283.