Braves win 4th straight game

VIERA, FLORIDA - Andruw Jones enjoys hitting against Tomo Ohka even in spring training.

Jones homered and doubled, and John Thomson had his best outing of the spring to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 6-0 victory over the Montreal Expos on Monday night.

Jones doubled off Ohka to spark a three-run second, then led off the fourth with his second homer to put Atlanta up 4-0.

``I feel comfortable seeing the ball off the mound from him,'' Jones said. ``I have success because he has left a lot of balls up against me and I can catch up with them. When he keeps his ball down, he's a tough pitcher.''

Johnny Estrada added an RBI single off Ohka in the fifth and Jesse Garcia hit his first homer off T.J. Tucker leading off the seventh as Atlanta won its fourth straight.

Thomson, who signed as a free agent after going 13-14 with Texas last season, allowed three hits in five sharp innings.

``He's pitched really well,'' manager Bobby Cox said. ``He hasn't had good luck, but all of our starters have thrown the ball well. He's ready and we're happy to have him. He's a good, good signing.''

Thomson hadn't faced major league hitters since March 19. He allowed one run in five innings for Class-A Myrtle Beach in his last outing because his scheduled day to pitch fell on an off day in Atlanta's spring schedule.

``I could've kept on going the way I felt today,'' Thomson said.

John Smoltz allowed one hit in the seventh for the Braves, who got their second spring shutout. Smoltz has held the opposition scoreless in four of five outings.

``I ran into a little stiff-neck problem,'' Smoltz said. ``It's on the way behind me but it got me pretty good. I'm glad I pitched and it worked its way out, and got all the kinks out. The biggest thing is you don't want to create bad habits.''

Ohka had his worst start in six spring outings, allowing eight hits and five runs in five innings.

``Early in the game he was leaving some stuff up and we worked on getting the ball down and worked on some pitches,'' catcher Brian Schneider said. ``I'm not worried about it a bit. He gave up some bloopers and some broken-bat hits, but it's all about how he feels, and he felt great and that's all that matters.''

Montreal, with 17 wins this spring, was shut out for the first time in 27 spring training games.

Thomson hit an RBI grounder to cap the three-run second. Mike Hessman doubled off the wall in right-center to drive in Atlanta's first run. Gary Matthews Jr. had an RBI to make it 2-0.

NOTES: Braves 2B Marcus Giles went to Atlanta earlier in the day because of discomfort with his wisdom teeth. He will consult an oral surgeon Tuesday and remain there, where he is expected to rejoin the team Friday. ... Newly acquired Expos RHP John Patterson is scheduled to pitch Wednesday against St. Louis in Jupiter. Patterson was acquired Thursday from Arizona for LHP Randy Choate.