--A trip to Class AA Mississippi may have been just what the doctor ordered for RF Jeff Francoeur. The 24-year-old Atlanta native had one of Atlanta's two hits off Los Angeles pitching on Wednesday with a homer in the eighth. It was the first blast for Francoeur since June 12 at the Chicago Cubs.
--LF Gregor Blanco had Atlanta's other hit in the loss -- a single to lead off the seventh. The Dodgers' Derek Lowe retired 18 straight prior to the base hit. --3B Chipper Jones was 0-for-3 Wednesday, and he is hitless in his last 10 at-bats to see his average dip to .375.
--Atlanta has scored one or fewer runs in three of its last five games and five of its last 11. The Braves have also lost eight of their last 11.
--RHP Jair Jurrjens was named the National League Rookie of the Month of June. He was 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA in four starts. He allowed just one homer in 27 2/3 innings.
BY THE NUMBERS: 47 -- Innings between the Braves' lead in a game, from June 27 to July 4.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This wasn't punitive in nature. We don't even really look at it as a demotion. We look at it as stepping back for a few days and decompressing and getting his game going." -- General manager Frank Wren, on optioning RF Jeff Francoeur to Class AA Mississippi to work on his swing.
