John Smoltz

Foreclosed properties owned by former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz and singer and actress Connie Stevens are headed for auction this month in Wyoming. The Jackson Hole News & Guide ( http://goo.gl/cHrui) reports that Smoltz owes Wells Fargo Bank roughly $1.6 million on a vacant lot in the Snake River Sporting Club. The property is a troubled development that has changed hands several times since 2004. Smoltz's lot is set to go up for auction Aug. 23. Stevens owes roughly $2.8 million on a property in Indian Springs.

Foreclosed properties owned by former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz and singer and actress Connie Stevens are headed for auction this month in Wyoming. The Jackson Hole News & Guide ( http://goo.gl/cHrui) reports that Smoltz owes Wells Fargo Bank roughly $1.6 million on a vacant lot in the Snake River Sporting Club. The property is a troubled development that has changed hands several times since 2004. Smoltz's lot is set to go up for auction Aug. 23. Stevens owes roughly $2.8 million on a property in Indian Springs.

ATLANTA -- The Braves rocked the Rocket, John Smoltz picked up where he left off six years ago, and Atlanta finds itself even with the Houston Astros in the National League playoffs. Rookie Brian McCann hit a three-run homer in his first postseason at-bat, which were all the runs Smoltz needed to lead the Braves past Roger Clemens and the Astros, 7-1, last night, tying the best-of-five Division Series at one game apiece. Smoltz broke a one-day tie with Houston's Andy Pettitte to reclaim the title of baseball's winningest postseason pitcher.

Brett Myers is trying hard to keep the ball down. That would help, because too many of his pitches lately have landed up, up and away. Myers allowed two more home runs Sunday, and it was plenty to give the Atlanta Braves a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros. Myers has already yielded 18 homers, most in the majors. Last year, he gave up 20 in more than 233 innings. “It’s the same thing every time I start,’’ said Myers. “Two pitches end up losing me the game. It’s frustrating.’’ Brian McCann and Dan Uggla tagged Myers (2-6)

ATLANTA -- Andruw Jones hit another home run, John Smoltz pitched his second consecutive complete game, and the Atlanta Braves beat Baltimore, 8-1, yesterday, sending the Orioles to their fifth straight defeat. Jones had two hits, including his major league-leading 24th homer, and drove in two runs as the Braves completed a three-game sweep. During Atlanta's 5-1 homestand, Jones had five homers and 11 RBIs. Since teammate Chipper Jones went on the disabled list with a foot injury June 6, Andruw Jones has hit .382 with 12 homers and 23 RBIs.

Andruw Jones added to his major league lead with two more homers and Marcus Giles's 12th-inning single gave Atlanta a 5-4 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants after the Braves squandered a three-run lead in the ninth last night. Giles waited until the last possible moment to extend his hitting streak to 14 games -- with two outs and two runners on, he lined a single to left off Brian Cooper (0-1). Wilson Betemit, who led off the inning with a walk, easily beat the throw home.

ATLANTA - In a stunning move, the Atlanta Braves released 305-game winner Tom Glavine yesterday, just when it seemed he was ready to return to the big leagues. The 43-year-old Glavine, who was coming back from shoulder and elbow surgery, threw six scoreless innings for Single A Rome (Ga.) Tuesday night and proclaimed himself ready to pitch in the majors again. Instead, the Braves cut him, another move that figures to draw the ire of Atlanta fans after the team failed to re-sign John Smoltz during the offseason.

Pedro Martinez pitched a two-hitter and the Mets finally got their first win of the season yesterday, overcoming John Smoltz's 15 strikeouts in a 6-1 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. Carlos Beltran hit a go-ahead homer off Smoltz in the eighth, and Cliff Floyd and David Wright connected later in the inning to send Willie Randolph to his first win as a manager. Martinez (1-0) retired the final 16 batters, struck out nine, and walked only one in his 43d career complete game.

John Smoltz finally got some run support and bullpen help, earning his first win of the season last night in the Atlanta Braves' 4-3 victory over Pedro Martinez and the Mets in New York. Smoltz scattered seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in his fifth start since returning to Atlanta's rotation. He earned his first win as a starter since June 3, 2001, the last season he was a regular member of the Braves rotation. The Braves barely held on after closer Dan Kolb allowed two runs in the ninth.

John Smoltz scattered nine hits for his second straight win, and the Braves made the most of their four hits off Jeff Suppan for a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday in Atlanta. Smoltz (2-3) returned to the starting rotation this year after three seasons plus as one of baseball's most feared closers. He lost his first three decisions, mainly because of a lack of run support, and he didn't have much room for error against the Cardinals. But the Braves broke a scoreless duel in the sixth with two runs, and Chris Reitsma helped Smoltz escape his final jam in the...

ATLANTA - For the second time in three months, a major league team is retiring Greg Maddux’s number, leaving the Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher feeling humbled and a little confused. How can his number be retired when he still feels like an active player? “It’s all still pretty new to me. I don’t feel 100 percent retired yet, to be honest with you,’’ Maddux said last week. “I just still feel like it’s the offseason and still feel like I could go back and play again, but I know it’s not going to happen.

PHILADELPHIA - John Smoltz spent so much of his career sitting in the Braves' dugout with Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux discussing the game, discussing pitching. Smoltz knows if the three future Hall of Famers had seen a kid like Daniel Bard, they all would have been impressed with his arm and his makeup. Smoltz yesterday reaffirmed that belief after Bard had the worst outing of his brief major league career. "He's gonna be fine," said Smoltz. "I think situational pitching like he was in today is the toughest thing a young kid has to get used to when he...

PHILADELPHIA - Remember way back when John Smoltz was signed, the feeling was that somehow, someway the Red Sox would find a way to get the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer into the rotation? Well, that time is just about at hand. As far as we know, there will be no "those things will take care of themselves" scenarios. The Sox may not know what the scenario will be quite yet, but they have told Smoltz not to worry, that they will figure it out. Smoltz described his status as a holding pattern.

ATLANTA - In a stunning move, the Atlanta Braves released 305-game winner Tom Glavine yesterday, just when it seemed he was ready to return to the big leagues. The 43-year-old Glavine, who was coming back from shoulder and elbow surgery, threw six scoreless innings for Single A Rome (Ga.) Tuesday night and proclaimed himself ready to pitch in the majors again. Instead, the Braves cut him, another move that figures to draw the ire of Atlanta fans after the team failed to re-sign John Smoltz during the offseason.

John Smoltz got two standing ovations, a video tribute, and a congratulatory text message from his friend Greg Maddux on the night he joined the 3,000 strikeout club. About the only thing he didn't get was a victory. Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach the plateau, but he was outpitched by John Lannan in the Washington Nationals' 6-0 win over the Braves last night in Atlanta. Smoltz fanned Felipe Lopez in the third inning to reach the mark.

ATLANTA -- For only the second time in a regular-season game, John Smoltz sensed an extra excitement that normally comes in the postseason. "Euphoria," Smoltz said. For baseball's all-time leader in postseason wins, the added edge made him feel right at home. Smoltz became baseball's first pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves, achieving the feat by throwing seven shutout innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets last night. Smoltz talked of treating his third start of the season against his friend and former teammate Tom Glavine as a normal...

John Smoltz got two standing ovations, a video tribute, and a congratulatory text message from his friend Greg Maddux on the night he joined the 3,000 strikeout club. About the only thing he didn't get was a victory. Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach the plateau, but he was outpitched by John Lannan in the Washington Nationals' 6-0 win over the Braves last night in Atlanta. Smoltz fanned Felipe Lopez in the third inning to reach the mark.

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz slipped out of the Atlanta Braves clubhouse through a side door, hoping to avoid reporters camped out by his locker. He knew what was coming and, frankly, he was a little tired of talking about it. Smoltz walked all the way to the parking lot before finally -- with more than a little reluctance -- stopping by his car to chat. "Everybody's putting me in a coffin," Smoltz said. "All I've got is a stiff shoulder. It's not that big a deal. " The Braves made it official yesterday, announcing that Smoltz will pitch Game 2 of the NL Division Series tomorrow against the...

Two old friends had their fun, then got down to business. This could have been John Smoltz and Greg Maddux in the prime of their brilliant careers, when they were teammates -- not opponents. Smoltz got the best of Maddux in their first head-to-head matchup since 1992, earning the win when the Braves rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to beat the San Diego Padres, 3-2, last night in Atlanta. Both pitchers -- with 533 wins and five Cy Youngs between them -- showed plenty of emotion, eager to get the best of the other after spending 11 years as teammates in Atlanta.

Pedro Martínez and John Smoltz had another memorable duel. Martínez gave up four hits in seven innings and the New York Mets strengthened their hold on first place in the NL East, getting two homers from David Wright in a 5-2 win over Smoltz and the Braves last night in Atlanta. Smoltz, 38, also went seven innings, striking out 10 and hanging around long enough to throw 122 pitches. But he left trailing, 3-2, and Chris Reitsma gave up two more runs in the ninth to clinch the Braves' fourth straight loss.