Braves

ATLANTA -- Reed Johnson homered and had three hits, and Toronto extended Atlanta's longest losing streak in 17 years. The Braves have dropped eight straight for the first time since April 24-May 2, 1989.

ATLANTA -- Two Atlanta Braves rookies -- first baseman Brian Hunter and outfielder Keith Mitchell -- were charged with driving under the influence early yesterday morning in separate incidents.

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay ....... Time TV ..... StartersTonight ... 7: 35 13, 50 Denny Neagle (7-2, 3.01)........................ vs. Scott Erickson (5-6, 5.05)Tomorrow .. 1: 15 45, 5 Kevin Millwood (7-2, 3.93)........................ vs. Mike Mussina (4-2, 2.52)Sunday .... 1: 35 HTS .. Greg Maddux (8-2, 1.85)........................ vs. Doug Drabek (5-5, 5.86)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Braves updateLast June, this was the most highly anticipated series during the first weekend of interleague play.

This has been Orioles rookie Wei-Yin Chen's first foray into interleague play, where American League pitchers are forced to bat in National League parks, but the Taiwanese left-hander has already seen enough to know he's not a fan. “Not really, because I hate hitting,” Chen said through an interpreter. But Chen and the Orioles left Turner Field on Sunday afternoon able to boast that they beat the Braves at their own game - excelling in an NL style of baseball that leans on manufactured runs, solid pitching and technique-minded defense - for a 2-0 series-clinching win over Atlanta.

Patapsco shortstop Jerry Vecchioni signed with the Atlanta Braves last night, one day after he was selected in the seventh round of the major-league amateur draft.Vecchioni, who signed after 3 1/2 hours of negotiations at the school with Braves scout Dayton Moore and Paul Snyder, the organization's national cross checker, called the contract "a very nice offer." It included an education at his choice of Maryland colleges. He leaves for West Palm Beach, Fla., on June 11."They liked my strong arm, my strong fielding and my instincts," said Vecchioni, 6 feet, 172 pounds, who added that his contract was between $60,000 and $100,000.

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox had the luxury of naming contingent starting pitchers for Game 4 tonight. Cincinnati Reds manager Davey Johnson was going with ace Pete Schourek either way.Cox had Tom Glavine and Steve Avery set to go tonight depending on the outcome of Game 3. When the Braves took a 3-0 series lead, Avery got the ball and everybody else in the Atlanta rotation got an extra day of rest."

The Orioles are 6 1/2 games out of first place, the Atlanta Braves are 4 1/2 out. Rarely have two clubs in such similar positions offered a more dramatic contrast.The Braves, coming off a three-game sweep of NL West leader San Francisco, have won 14 of their last 16 games and 28 of their last 38.The Orioles wished they were as hot.Wished they were chasing only one team.Wished they were getting Dennis Martinez to join Greg Maddux, Steve Avery, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine in their starting rotation.

Atlanta Braves rookies Brian Hunter and Keith Mitchell both played in last night's doubleheader, about 12 hours after being released after their arrests in separate drunken-driving incidents.Hunter and Mitchell each went 0-for-1 in the Braves' 2-1 victory in 10 innings over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game. Hunter drove in three runs in the second game, which Atlanta lost, 10-9, in 10 innings.Atlanta police said Mitchell, 22, a reserve outfielder, was charged with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and hitting a fixed object after his car ran into a median on Interstate 75-85 downtown about 5:15 a.m."

ATLANTA -- Steve Avery plans to spend two nights in Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome this weekend, one as a spectator. But that doesn't mean he's planning on a seventh game of the World Series.On the eve of the biggest game of his life, 24 hours before he has a possible date with destiny in the same building, Avery will find out tonight what it's like to sit in the stands in the stadium with the highest decibel rating in baseball. And he will be rooting against the University of Minnesota football team.