Smoltz takes command

[braves guru]

St. Louis -- Relieved to be out of Cincinnati, to have John Smoltz on the mound and perhaps even to have a clean slate in the bullpen after Bob Wickman was designated for assignment, the Braves regrouped Friday to beat St. Louis 7-2. The Mets and Padres both won Friday, too, so the Braves made up no ground on the division and wild-card leaders, but they got their bearing back. After losing three in a row to the Reds to fall three games back in the wild-card race and six in the division, the Braves' sense of equilibrium returned thanks to a change in scenery and eight strong innings by Smoltz.

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