It's all in the socks...

Atlanta starting pitcher Ben Sheets shows off his arm. (AP Photo/H. Rump, Jr.)

So the Atlanta Braves wanted to keep the winning streak alive. So what does the team turn too? It's not a particular player, it's wardrobe. The team comes together as one team with a certain goal, by all wearing knee high socks, just like players did in the early years of baseball.

The Braves just finished up a great home stand where they went 8-2. They wanted to carry that winning mentality into the city of brotherly love last night where the team was vying for their seventh straight win against the Phillies this season. And win they did. The Braves beat the Phillies 6-1 to run the winning streak to nine out of the last 11 games. Ben Sheets took the hill for Atlanta, and he has been awesome in his three starts. He has been everything the Braves wanted him to be since signing him. He went 7.1 innings on seven hits, with one earned run. He pushed his record  to 4-1. He's just what the Braves need to help push for a playoff birth and make a run for another World Series title. Right fielder Jason Heyward continues to amaze, going 2-5 as he belted his 18th homer of the season. His defense has come to life this year as well, and it was no different last night making a snow cone catch to save the Braves from a Phillies rally.

LF Martin Prado slides in safely at the plate in Atlanta's 6-1 win over Philadelphia. (Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images North America)

A side note for the Braves that came in the final game of the home stand on Sunday was 3B Chipper Jones scoring his 1,600 of his 19-year career. Chipper had the night off last night to rest his knees, hoping to keep him fresh for the stretch of the rest of the season.

If the Braves can just keep fresh and stay focused, they have something special brewing for this season. They just have to catch the Washington Nationals, who won last night, and remain three games up on the Braves in the National League East.

Something to keep in mind. With last night's win, Ben Sheets didn't record a strikeout. The last time the Braves didn't have a strikeout the entire game was 1995. And do you know what happened that year? The Braves held the World Series trophy at the end of the year.I'm just saying, it could happen.

Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley
I am a loving husband, father.  God and family are #1 in my life.
Kennesaw State Univ alum in Journalism. 
Academic librarian/writer/blogger. "Your thoughts are better organized 
when they are written."

The Phillies host the Braves tonight, gametime set for 7:10pm. Here's hoping for eight straight wins against the Phillies and a series win after tonight.

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.