Professional Sports

The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates will play a doubleheader Monday after their game Sunday was postponed by rain.

Arizona manager Bob Melvin seeks out pitcher and former Gainesville High standout Micah Owings on the days he isn't starting. Owings isn't a typical pitcher. On April 29, Melvin called on Owings to pinch hit for fellow pitcher Brandon Medders and the righty-swinging Owings lined his first pitch into the right field seats to tie the game.

John Smoltz hopes to persuade the Atlanta Braves' medical staff to allow him to resume throwing as early as Sunday. Smoltz has been sidelined for two weeks because of biceps and rotator cuff problems in his right arm. A starter when the season began, Smoltz will go into the bullpen once he returns.

There were signs Saturday that Atlanta Falcons No. 7 jerseys may become yesterday's fashion. Some fans attending the Falcons opening day of minicamp wore No. 2 jerseys in early tribute to the team's new hope at quarterback, rookie Matt Ryan.

Shawn Simpson grabbed the lead on Lap 15 and then cruised to the win Saturday night in the Pro Late Model race at Lanier National Speedway. Simpson held off Fredrick Moore in the 40-lap event.

Tom Gorzelanny shook off Mark Teixeira's two-run homer in the first inning to shut out Atlanta during the rest of his 7 1/3 innings, Jason Bay homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended the Braves' road woes with a 5-2 victory Saturday night.

Point guard Ivory Latta gazed at the crowd during an exhibition game at Philips Arena, hoping the turnout of almost 8,000 was a sign of things to come for the Atlanta Dream.

Matt Ryan will have his first chance to prove he can be more than just another clipboard-toting rookie observer when the new Atlanta Falcons quarterback participates in a three-day minicamp beginning on Saturday.

All it took was his first Darlington Raceway victory to bring out Tony Stewart's softer side. Only two months ago, Stewart angrily blasted Goodyear after the Atlanta race, saying the company had given him "the most pathetic racing tire I've ever been on in my professional career."