Hot time in the City

Braves Update:
Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was one for the record books when Chipper Jones hit two homeruns suprassing Dale Murphy as the Atlanta Braves all-time homerun king. They also won 8-6. Tim Hudson didn't have quite the start he was hoping for after leaving in the fourth inning, but Atlanta's relief pitching was able to stop the bleeding, holding the Dodgers to six scoreless innings. The Braves move onto San Diego to take on the Padres in a three game series before the all-star break. The game starts at 10:05 PM/est on TBS.

Random Quote: "Just to be in the same breath as those guys, Hank, Murph and Eddie Mathews, it's a tremendous honor. I've been very blessed. I'll shoot for some more numbers." -Chipper Jones (source)

Games behind NY Mets in NL East: 3
Games above .500: 4
NL Wild Card Leader: Los Angeles Dodgers

Braves Notes: John Smoltz will be out until after the all-star break, giving up his spot on the All-Star roster. Houston Astro Roy Oswalt will replace him. Smoltzie has been experiencing tightness in his shoulder since tweaking it May 29th...Pete Orr was optioned to Richmond to make room for pitcher Joey Divine.

NASCAR Update:
It's time for a trip down to Daytona this weekend. It's a restrictor plate race meaning close quarters and big wrecks. Kevin Harvick won here in February, but Hendrick Motorsports and Tony Stewart (who has won two straight Pepsi 400s) are always competitive. Coverage begins at 6:30 PM/est on TNT.

Check this out: Nascar.com talks to Martin Truex, Jr.

News & Notes: Proving he's more than just good hair, Bronson Arroyo not only pitched a great game, he hit his third career homerun in the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 over the San Francisco Giants...Congratulations to Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima and Padres starter Chris Young on being voted into the All-Star game...Congratulations to Nelly Furtado on her engagement to her secret boyfriend Demaico "Demo" Castellon...Finally, all of you college journalist majors take note, your job is not meant to be some sort of high priced dating service. Telemundo newscaster Mithala Salinas has been taken off the air while she is being investigated for breach of journalistic ethics. Ms. Salinas is dating Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. But their relationship started while the Mayor was married, complicating this whole mess even further.

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate