=== Atlanta Braves Team Report - June 15 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Atlanta Braves try for the series victory today, as they take on the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a three-game set at Safeco Field.

The teams have split the first two contests of the series and both games have been low scoring. The Mariners won 2-1 on Friday, while the Braves came back for a 3-1 win yesterday.

Atlanta, which has won three of its last four games and has widened its lead in the NL East to seven games over Montreal, can leave Seattle with the best mark in the majors with a win today.

This will be an excellent pitching matchup, as four-time NL Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux heads to the mound for Atlanta, while eight-game winner Gil Meche will throw for the Mariners.

Maddux is unbeaten (2-0) over his last five starts and the righthander has been especially strong in his last four outings. Maddux, who didn't get a decision in a seven-inning performance at Oakland on Tuesday, has allowed seven runs over his last four appearances, a span of 27 innings. This will be his first career start against Seattle.

Yesterday, Mike Hampton threw seven-plus solid innings to help Atlanta to the win. Hampton (3-3) was in cruise control throughout the game as he scattered just two hits and allowed only one run, while striking out three and walking three. The lefthander, who is now 1-2 over his last six outings, won for the first time since a May 11 decision against San Francisco.

John Smoltz worked two innings for his major league-leading 26th save of the season.

Gary Sheffield and Darren Bragg each had two hits and an RBI, while Andruw Jones also drove home a run for the Braves, who have captured three of their last four games. Atlanta also improved to 14-2 in its last 16 interleague contests dating back to last year.