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Smoltz takes mound for up-and-down Braves

Jul 2, 2007 - 1:29 PM Atlanta (43-39) at La Dodgers (46-36) 10:10 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- John Smoltz will look to start another winning streak when the Atlanta Braves face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

The Braves had a five-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Florida Marlins.

After Yunel Escobar's two-run single gave Atlanta the lead in the ninth, Bob Wickman surrendered a solo home run to Miguel Olivo for his fourth blown save of the season. Florida tacked on the winning run in the 10th inning on Josh Willingham's RBI single.

Before their five-game winning streak, the Braves had lost five straight to the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, scoring just one run in those contests.

Smoltz (9-4, 2.98 ERA) is the only Atlanta representative in the 2007 All-Star Game. The 40-year-old righthander pitched five scoreless innings in his last outing, yielding five hits in a 13-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

Smoltz will be opposed by Derek Lowe (8-7, 3.03), who received the loss in his last outing despite pitching well.

The 34-year-old Lowe pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs - one earned - and five hits in a 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

The Dodgers avoided being swept with a 5-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday thanks to an excellent performance by Chad Billingsley, who pitched seven scoreless innings and surrendered just three hits with a career-high nine strikeouts.