Including a pivotal 1 1/3 innings of work on Monday in Milwaukee, the right-hander extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 15. Of greater note, Soriano has not allowed a hit in his last nine outings -- each lasting at least one inning -- and he has permitted just one hit in his last 14 2/3 innings of baseball.

During his superb May, Soriano has 11 strikeouts, one walk and four saves, each picked up while filling in at closer for an injured Bob Wickman.

"None of it is really a surprise to me because I've been doing this all my career," Soriano said. "I've been in the bullpen with Seattle in big situations like that. I can throw one inning and a third, one inning and two thirds. Everybody knows my numbers from the American League. It's a little bit different for me because I don't know too many hitters here, but nothing is changed."

Soriano boasts a career ERA of 2.83, though he went 1-2 with a 2.25 mark and set a career-high with 60 innings last season before Atlanta acquired him from the Mariners in exchange for left-hander Horacio Ramirez.

"Before the trade, I had been with Seattle all my life," Soriano said. "But I feel comfortable here and give 100 percent every time out."

With runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh on Monday, Soriano was summoned to face Brewers rookie Ryan Braun and struck out the third baseman, preserving a 2-1 lead that ultimately held for the duration of the contest.

Soriano added a 1-2-3 performance in the eighth for good measure and set up Wickman's eighth save.

"To me, it's the same thing, whether it's yesterday when you go out there in a tight ballgame or you're out there in a ninth inning getting a save," said Soriano, who has successfully converted all five of his save opportunities this season and allowed a single baserunner in the process.

"He comes at the hitters pretty hard," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He tries to stay relaxed like he should. I like his relaxed manner on the mound."

For the season, Soriano's numbers remain inflated -- if you can call a 1-0 record and 2.35 ERA inflated -- on account of two outings in April in which he allowed three runs apiece. Subtract those two, and Soriano has allowed no runs on two hits over 21 innings, with five walks.

No Chipper: On Monday, the Braves posted two lineups in the visitor's clubhouse at Miller Park, hopeful that Chipper Jones' bruised thumb would be sufficiently healed for game action after batting practice. The second lineup without Jones wound up going official.

On Tuesday, there was no such multi-lineup optimism.

Jones was held out of the starting nine for the sixth straight game, and Cox intimated that seeing Jones before the start of a three-game series in Chicago on Friday would be unlikely.

"We'll try not to use him at all, so it will all count if we have to [put him on the disabled list]," Cox said, referring to a backlog of missed games that would allow the team to make a DL move retroactive. "I'm hoping he can play then [after Thursday's day off]."

Ready to roll:: Needing 81 pitches in his fourth and final rehab appearance, right-hander Lance Cormier threw 6 2/3 shutout innings for Triple-A Richmond against Rochester on Monday. The Braves won, 3-0, and Cormier allowed four hits with two walks and four strikeouts to get the win.

Cox said Cormier, on the disabled list since the end of Spring Training with a strained triceps, would be activated in time for a June 5 doubleheader at home against Florida, the next occasion in which the Braves would need a fifth starter. Cox said Buddy Carlyle would likely start the other half of the day-night affair.

Cormier is 2-1 in his rehab appearances, spanning three levels of the Minor League system, with a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 frames. He has allowed 17 hits but just two walks, with 14 strikeouts.

"He threw great, nothing but good stuff," Cox said.

Voting season: No Braves were among the frontrunners when the first batch of fan balloting results for the 2007 All-Star Game came down Monday, though several were in contention.

Jones was in second place among National League third baseman with 301,393 votes, roughly 108,000 shy of frontrunner David Wright of the Mets. Catcher Brian McCann was also in second with 288,491 votes, south of New York's Paul Lo Duca by just over 50,000.

Edgar Renteria was fifth among shortstops, Andruw Jones was fifth among outfielders and Jeff Francoeur was 10th. A complete list of the voting updates can be found here.

Game time changes: The start of three upcoming games have been switched to accommodate for national televised broadcasts. The Braves-Cubs game on June 10 has been re-scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET and will be shown on ESPN.

Fox has also selected the Braves for its Saturday Game of the Week on June 16 at Cleveland and June 23 at Detroit. Both contests have been changed from 7:05 p.m. start times to 3:55 p.m. ET starts. None of the three games will be broadcast on local television after the changes.

On deck: Tim Hudson (5-3, 2.79 ERA) takes to the hill in an afternoon affair to wrap up the three-game visit in Milwaukee. The Brewers will send an up-and-down Dave Bush (3-5, 6.13) in the 1:05 p.m. ET start.