Manager Bobby Cox pretends to be making a little joke when he tells his starting pitchers to go out there and throw a no-hitter, and hit a home run while you're at it.
But that isn't funny, really. The Braves need offense wherever they can find it. That's the reason Cox keeps sliding players in and out of the lineup. Omar Infante is now the de facto starter at second base when the Braves face a left-handed pitcher, nudging Kelly Johnson out of that role.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cox started Matt Diaz in right field in place of Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur had played virtually every inning of every game and deserved the day off. But coupled with Thursday's off day, that's two days for Francoeur to rest. Maybe then he can start the upcoming 10-game homestand with more focus on what he's been trying to accomplish at the plate. He has seemed to regress in his at-bats over the last week.
Martin Prado got the start at first base Wednesday, spelling Casey Kotchman. Cox would like to find more playing time for Prado, but not at the expense of losing Chipper Jones, even though third base is usually where Prado gets his opportunities.
BRAVES 8, METS 7 (12 innings): 1B Martin Prado saved the day with a solo home run in the 12th inning Wednesday. By that time, every position player and reliever except LHP Mike Gonzalez had been used, and RHP Kenshin Kawakami had been called on to pinch-hit. Gonzalez, who blew Tuesday's lead, came through with a save. But it was a stinker of a start for LHP Jo-Jo Reyes. Given an immediate 2-0 lead, he lost that and then some, allowing five runs in three-plus innings.
