Georgia sports for Friday, May 9th

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves made it a clean sweep of their series with the San Diego Padres in the Thursday afternoon 5-4 win at Turner Field in Atlanta. The victory also made it a perfect homestand--the first two-series home sweep in five years. The win was gained on the strength of Matt Diaz' bases-loaded RBI single in the 9th inning--it represented the Braves' first 1-run win of the season. Atlanta improved their major-league best home record to 14-4. The current 6-game winning streak has repaired the Braves' record to a season-high 3 games over .500 at 18-15. The team opens a 7-game road trip--1st of 4 games at Pittsburgh is tonight.

Reliever Peter Moylan underwent right elbow surgery on Thursday. That confirms he will miss the remainder of the 2008 season.

Georgia sports for Thursday, Sept. 6th

The Braves came back from a 6-run deficit after 7 innings yesterday, stunning the Phillies at Turner Field 9-8. The Braves scored 4 times in the 8th inning, then a final 3 runs for the victory in their half of the 9th. With 2 outs, Matt Diaz delivered a bases-clearing double to right field. The Braves are hoping somehow this might spur a big comeback in the playoff race, where they are 5-and-a-half games back of a wild card spot. They remain 7-and-a-half back of the Mets for the NL-East division lead.

The football weekend approaching adds Georgia Southern, and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons to the schedule. On the college gridiron, both Georgia and Georgia Tech look to go 2-0 to open their seasons. The Bulldogs are in Athens hosting neighbor South Carolina on Saturday for a 5:45 kickoff. Tech's Yellow Jackets stage their home-opener in Atlanta Saturday afternoon, a 1:30 start facing Samford. Georgia Southern's Eagles open their schedule at home in Statesboro against West Georgia--a 6pm kickoff for Saturday evening. On the pro level, its the opening of the NFL season this weekend: the Falcons begin life without Michael Vick, on the road at Minnesota Sunday.