Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - The Atlanta Braves hope to lock up home- field advantage throughout the playoffs and move closer to the 100-win plateau this evening, when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the rubber match of a three- game series at Veterans Stadium.

After dropping the opener of this set by a 5-3 score, the Braves rebounded to earn a 7-1 victory on Wednesday. Andruw Jones slammed a career-high three home runs and Damian Moss tossed 6 2/3 strong innings for the Braves, who won their second in three tries.

Jones is the first Braves player to belt three home runs in a game since Jeff Blauser did it against the Cubs on July 12, 1992. The All-Star outfielder has Blauser did it against the Cubs on July 12, 1992. The All-Star outfielder has eight homers in September, including a stretch of four round-trippers in as many at-bats from September 7-10.

Atlanta is now only two victories away from its first 100-win season since 1999, and fifth since 1993. It owns a five-game lead on both Arizona and St. Louis for the best record in the National League and can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win this evening. Both the Cardinals and Diamondbacks have only four games remaining.

Moss allowed just one run on five hits, while striking out five and walking two. John Smoltz preserved the win with a scoreless ninth, but did not earn a save. The hard-throwing righthander remains one save away from setting the National League mark for most saves in one year. He is currently deadlocked with Randy Myers of the Cubs (1993) and Trevor Hoffman of the Padres (1998) for the record. In 1999, Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox set the major league mark with 57.

Placido Polanco homered for the Phillies, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Bobby Abreu finished 0-for-3 and had his hitting streak halted at 17 games, while Jimmy Rollins had two hits in the loss.

Brett Myers suffered the defeat, surrendering four runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

At 79-79, Philadelphia needs to win three of its last four contests to secure consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1982-83. The Phillies are also one victory shy of posting back-to-back 80-win seasons for the first time since the 1986-87 campaigns. If the club finishes above .500, Larry Bowa will become the first Phillies manager to post consecutive winning campaigns since Dallas Green in 1980 and 1981 (strike-shortened) -- Bowa's final two seasons as a player in the City of Brotherly Love.

Joe Roa gets the call this evening for Bowa's crew. Roa faced the Braves seven days ago at Turner Field and was tagged with the loss after surrendering five runs on seven hits over five frames. He walked one and struck out three, while giving up a home run to Chipper Jones.

The loss was the righthander's third in four decisions, spanning four trips to the mound. Roa has permitted three runs or more in four of his last six starts to watch his earned run average climb from 3.38 to 3.88. This will be the 30- year-old hurler's sixth outing of the season at home, where he is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA.

For his career, Roa is 0-3 versus Atlanta. He has faced the Braves twice this year and is 0-2 with a 9.00 earned run average.

Kevin Millwood counters for the NL East champs. Millwood suffered the loss in his last trip to the hill after allowing five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 frames against the Florida Marlins. He walked two and fanned four.

The setback was the righthander's second in as many outings, with both coming against the Marlins. This, following a personal eight-game winning streak. In his last two starts, Millwood has permitted a total of 10 runs -- nine earned -- 13 hits in 10 1/3 innings. He is hoping to avoid his first three-game slide since dropping four in a row from April 22 to May 18.

Lifetime, Millwood is 9-5 versus Philadelphia. He has battled the Phillies on four occasions in 2002 and is 2-2 with a 2.46 earned run average. On the road this year, Millwood is 10-2 with a 3.30 ERA.

The Braves lead the season series by an 11-7 margin, including six victories in nine attempts in Philadelphia. Since the start of the 1999 campaign, they are 37-26 in this matchup.

Philadelphia is 40-40 on the year as the host, while Atlanta brings a 46-30 road mark into this contest.