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 Adidas Superstar China . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Adidas Superstars Sale Cheap . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.superstarcheap.com/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Adidas Superstar Best Price . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Adidas Superstars Clearance Sale . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Below are the Week 2 NFL preseason lines, courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.FridayNew York Jets at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 40)Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys (-3.5, 40.5)Arizona Cardinals at San Diego Chargers (-1.5, 40.5)SaturdayCarolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans (-1, 41.5)New York Giants at Buffalo Bills (-2.5, 40)Baltimore Ravens at Indianaapolis Colts (-2.dddddddddddd5, 41)Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3, 40.5)New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans (-3, 40.5)San Francisco 49ers?at Denver Broncos (-4.5, 40)Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams (-3, 39) cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '