appeared to pray by the side of his car and later said a higher power

PHILADELPHIA -- Its been as if someone flipped the switch to on for the Philadelphia Phillies while the Atlanta Braves dial has been stuck in off for the majority of the season.The bottom two teams in the NL East, the Phillies and Braves open a three-game series in Philadelphia on Monday. They are one week removed from a much-needed All-Star break to regroup... except the Phillies may not want to stop playing anytime soon.After battling offensive ineptitude for about 75 games, the Phillies bats have come alive, and it has fueled a 5-1 stretch.I dont know exactly whats happened. I just know we had it in us, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said following Sundays 7-2 win over Kansas City. I always felt even for the first two months that we were a better hitting team than it showed and it was kind of an enigma as to why we werent hitting better. It just took a little time.The individual numbers have really turned around as of late. Maikel Franco has been on a torrid stretch that has seen him record multiple hits in five of his last six games. He has also reached base safely in 11 of the last 12 contests. The third basemen ripped a home run on Sunday to cap off a 3-for-4 day.Cameron Rupp also hit a home run in that game. He is on an eight-game hitting streak that has been highlighted by his last two outings in which he has gone a combined 5-for-8 with three RBI and two doubles. Cody Asche also hit a home run in their latest victory. Likewise, Peter Bourjos singled to extend his hit streak to 12 games.It helps when youve got a guy like Bourjos, who came out of nowhere up to .270, Mackanin said. Thats an unbelievable story in itself. I think the other players feed off things like that. You know, its like, Well I can do it, too. I know thats not a scientific answer, but its the best I can do.No explanation needed. Its apparent that the Phillies are trending upward as the All-Star break looms.Meanwhile, the Braves really have yet to get going, which has led to a forgettable first half. They put together a six-game winning streak in the middle of June but came back down to reality by losing six of eight games immediately afterward.Their problems run the full gamut. The pitching has been unreliable while the hitting has been streaky. The have also had some bad luck.On Saturday, the Braves tied the Marlins in the ninth inning with a Tyler Flowers home run. In the 12th inning, the game-winning hit was delivered by pinch-hitter Jose Fernandez, the Miami pitcher. Things like that only add salt to the wounds.It was eventful, Flowers said, according to MLB.com. I thought we battled well... I think there were a lot of positives to take away. We just couldnt come up with the big hit at the end.That could very well sum up the Braves season: eventful yet left helpless at the end. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. https://www.wholesalejerseys2020.com/ . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Cheap Jerseys From China . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. SUZUKA, Japan -- Nico Rosberg expects teammate Lewis Hamilton to come back significantly stronger following his recent engine failure at the Malaysian Grand Prix.Hamilton retired from the lead of last Sundays race, giving Rosberg the chance to extend his lead in the championship to 23 points. The defending champion was clearly struggling with his emotions after the engine failure as he appeared to pray by the side of his car and later said a higher power did not want him to win.But rather than being weakened by the incident, Rosberg expects his teammate to be even stronger this weekend in Japan.I dont draw encouragement from that, no, he said. I know that when Lewis has difficulties like that he will come back fully motivated. So its not very encouraging to know hee is going to come back as strong as ever.ddddddddddddHamilton has been affected by more engine issues than Rosberg this season, but the German is not concerned that Mercedes reliability could ultimately decide the championship.Im not worried because I have learned to put my energy into something I can influence, and thats something I can definitely influence, he added. I also have all the trust in the team that they do all they can to make sure they dont happen again. They have come with certain changes for this weekend here, but am I worried it will decide the championship? No, thats all very far away first of all and secondly ... no. ' ' '