Braves 5-3 Nats 3-4

Game one was the Andruw show, as he drove in all five runs and made two signature catches. Looks like he's back in the groove once again -- if this game had come against the Mets, it might have catapaulted him into the lead of the MVP race. I still don't think he SHOULD be the favorite, but there's no doubt he's getting closer. Here's my ballot as of today:

1. Derrek Lee
2. Albert Pujols
3T. Andruw Jones and Miguel Cabrera
5. Roger Clemens

I don't fault a player for having lousy teammates or managers. Witness Lee, who is 14 RBI behind Andruw. Due mainly to Dusty's insistence on batting outmakers Corey Patterson and Neifi Perez at the top of the order, Lee has had a total of 237 plate appearances with runners on base. Andruw has 283 such plate appearances.

Game two featured a more game effort by John Thomson, whom we obviously need to step up in the final 5 weeks of the season. We battled back to tie in the eighth, and could have taken the lead if not for a fine throw by Guillen to nail LaRoche at the plate. But then on came Reitsma, who has become Kolbesque in virtually every appearance. A loss ensued...