Red Sox 10 - Braves 7

I'm a little bleary-eyed this morning because I stayed up to watch the final out of last night's Red Sox / Braves game.

I must say that these are exactly the sort of games that separate the division winners from the also rans. A winning team needs these come-from-behind victories and conversely - division winners don't let leads slip away and lose these games. The Red Sox will win their division this year - the Braves not so much.

John Smoltz and Curt Schilling gave us the pitcher's duel that was expected. Smoltz went 7 and gave up 3 runs while striking out 8. Schilling went 6 and gave up 2 runs. When Schilling left - the bullpen blew his lead - Rudy Seanez giving up a 3-run bomb to Jeff Francouer. When Smoltz left - his bullpen blew his lead by giving up 6 runs to the Sox in the 8th.

John Smoltz is a free agent at the end of the season and he might be traded by the Braves. Here's my pitch for Smoltz. The Red Sox send Rudy Seanez back to San Diego for a AA pitching prospect (and then recall rookie Craig Hansen who can't be any worse than Seanez). The Sox then send the prospect from the Padres plus 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia to the Braves for Smoltz. Pedroia is a top prospect but I think if the Sox can sign Mark Loretta to a 2-year extension then we can live without him. I can't see the Braves getting much more for what probably will be a couple month rental of a top pitcher. With Marcus Giles struggling - Pedroia may be very enticing.

Pedroia is a top prospect but Smoltz would put the Sox over the top as far as playoff starters are concerned. Smoltz on the Red Sox probably make them the World Series favorites.