Smoltz fights neck stiffness

NOTES

John Smoltz thinks neck stiffness won’t prevent him from keeping on track to make four straight starts against N.L. East rivals of the Atlanta Braves.

After allowing three runs and seven hits in Thursday night’s 8-7, 10-inning victory over Washington, Smoltz said he was bothered by neck stiffness. He thinks a knot developed on the left side of his neck from an awkward slide while scoring against Milwaukee last Saturday. The stiffness limited his mobility and vision on the mound and made it more difficult to control his “finesse pitches.”

“I fought it most of the night,” Smoltz said Friday.

Bagwell will rejoin Astros

Jeff Bagwell is expected to rejoin the Houston Astros from a rehabilitation assignment today, but the first baseman might not be activated immediately.

Bagwell, recovering from surgery on his arthritic right shoulder, played his third rehab game Friday night at Double-A.

Nationals decision waits

The timetable for picking a new owner for the Washington Nationals got pushed back again. Major League Baseball doesn’t expect to choose a buyer for another two weeks, Bob DuPuy, the sport’s chief operating officer, said by telephone.

The sale price has been estimated at $300 million to $450 million.

Bell ends slam drought

Philadelphia third baseman David Bell hit his first career grand slam against the Nationals, ending the longest drought among active players in his 127th career at-bat with the bases loaded.

Alex Gonzalez of Tampa Bay, who entered the day with 112 bases-full at-bats without a homer, now has the longest such streak, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.