Atlanta BRAVES aka the "TOMAHAWK Shop 404" continues to move towards the thought of playing OCTOBER Hardball as the NL's #1 Seed...MEDLEN behind BRAVES Third Baseman CJ's MAPLE, ASH or BAMBOO beats the Phightin' PHILS 3-1...NL EAST is all but Ovaaaaaaaa!...A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #Back2SchoolHardball #BRAVESbiz

The Braves have been on fore for now going on a solid month and now the Maple, Ash, and Bamboo have woken up in that line up they start to get solid performances from the Bump.

Brave RHP Kris Medlen beat the Phightin' Phils 3-1 as he goes seven allowing one run on five hits walking one and striking out five. The Braves also get a Two-Run Blast from hot corner Chris Johnson who is hitting .338 and that leads Braves Starters. Both Freeman and Heyward get two hits apiece.  'Phils Second Baseman Chase Utley, after signing his new deal last week, goes 3 for 4 but he had three of the Phightin' Phils six hits.

As we go to press the Braves are two weeks and some change ahead of the 2nd place NL East Nats. What the Braves have to watch for now is the lead in thew National League overall as they lead the Buccos by 1 1/2 games and the surging "Boys in Blue" by 3 1/2 games. The key factor is having as many home games at least on paper in October than anyone else in October Hardball. The Junior Circuit Winner of the Pennant will have Fall Classic Home Field Advantage as the AL won the 2013 Mid-Summers Classic at Citi Field.