the dog days

Tough day to be a Bulldog in the ATL. Mississippi State alumnus Paul Maholm lasted just two innings as Atlanta’s starting pitcher, giving up seven runs. Not what the playoff-chasing Braves needed. But Maholm could smile at game’s end after what happened to fellow former Bulldog Jonathan Papelbon. The Philadelphia closer gave up a jaw-dropping, three-run, walk-off home run to Chipper Jones in the bottom of the ninth that capped the Braves’ 8-7 win. That was just what the Braves needed after blowing a game in the ninth on Friday and getting shut down by former Meridian Community College star Cliff Lee on Saturday. Could be a defining moment. We won’t know until October, of course. … Just for the record, ex-Bulldogs star Mitch Moreland suffered an 0-for-5 today, but his Texas club did win and holds firm to first place in the American League West. And MSU product Tyler Moore was hitless in one AB for Washington, but the Nationals also won and stayed 6½ games ahead of the Braves in the National League East.