Think about it. For more the equivalent of more than a quarter of a season's road games, the Braves have not found themselves on the right side of a close one.

They have lost in all sorts of ways -- blowing late leads, rallying from behind to fall just short, walk-offs, hit batsmen -- while tantalizing and teasing their fans in every excruciating way.

When the team was playing well at home, Kelly Johnson and a number of other Braves joked that they should bring the home uniforms with them to break out of their road slump.

That didn't seem to matter Thursday. The Braves donned their 1948 Boston Braves replica jerseys to honor the 60th anniversary of the Cubs' flagship station, WGN. The Boston Braves managed to win the pennant that year, while the Cubs were their loveable loser selves, finishing the season in their familiar last place.

Nevertheless, the Braves still managed to blow another one.

Blaine Boyer allowed a run in the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Manny Acosta loaded the bases in the 11th, and one hit batsman by reliever Jeff Ridgway later, Atlanta once again found itself on the wrong side of a one-run game.

As the season begins to slip away in early June, Braves fans know exactly why. Their team cannot win a close one and cannot win on the road -- two fatal flaws in a team that was picked by some to win the National League East.

CUBS 3, BRAVES 2 (11 innings): Blaine Boyer squandered a stellar pitching performance by ace Tim Hudson, surrendering a game-tying homer to Jim Edmonds in the ninth before Jeff Ridgway forced in a run by hitting a batter in the 11th. Jeff Francoeur homered for Atlanta, which lost for the 24th time in 31 road games this season.