Braves slide, Jays soar

Charles Odom/AP Sports Writer
The Associated Press

ATLANTA June 23, 2006 01:07 am

— Thanks to another bullpen meltdown, the Atlanta Braves have lost 10 consecutive games for the first time in 18 years.
Horacio Ramirez held Toronto to one run in 6 2-3 innings, but the bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead as Toronto rallied for a 3-2 win Thursday night.
With the loss, the Braves have been swept in three straight series of at least three games for the first time since 1977. They have lost 10 straight games for the first time since an 0-10 start to the 1988 season, and they fell 15 1/2 games behind the first-place Mets.
Toronto welcomed back starter A.J. Burnett, who pitching for the first time since April 21. He gave up only five hits and two runs in six innings. Burnett, who struck out seven, showed no signs of the soreness in his right elbow that caused him to go on the disabled list on April 22.

For full story, please see the June 23, 2006 edition of The Union-Recorder.