--LHP Mike Hampton (strained left pectoral muscle) pitched five innings for Class AA Mississippi on July 10, allowing two earned runs on six hits, striking out four while issuing no walks. He is scheduled for another rehab start during the All-Star break.
--RHP Rafael Soriano (right elbow tendinitis) began a rehab assignment July 12 with the Braves' Dominican Summer League's team in San Francisco de Macoris. Soriano threw nine pitches and had one strikeout in his one-inning appearance. --SS Yunel Escobar will have an MRI on his jammed left shoulder Monday in Atlanta. Escobar did not start in the final three-game series of the first half, against the Padres in San Diego.
--RF Jeff Francoeur was two for 20 with the bases loaded before his sixth-inning single against the Padres July 12. That record was the most glaring reason for his Class AA Mississippi assignment.
--3B Chipper Jones said he wasn't seeing pitches down the middle, which accounted for going two for 37 in July before his 3-for-4 night against the Padres July 12.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Games back of the division leaders by the All-Star break that general manager Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox thought, two weeks ago, was a reasonable gap to overcome. The Braves are 6 1/2 behind the Phillies.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We just haven't been able to overcome the early-season injuries. Slowly but surely, we're starting to get exposed." -- 3B Chipper Jones, on the state of the team at the All-Star break.
