"If you're wondering about Dan Uggla's game-day attire on Monday, he will arrive at the stadium wearing beige shorts, a plaid button-down shirt and tennis shoes with no socks.

We know this because for as much as Uggla insists he is not superstitious, this just isn't the time to mess with the cosmic forces.

"I'll wear the same thing I wore today - you ain't lying," he said, smiling.

This was a good day - unlike most of his days as a Brave. He went into Sunday's game against Philadelphia carrying a .196 batting average the way a pageant queen carries a blemish in the middle of her forehead.

The Braves traded for Uggla. They committed to him over the long term with a five-year, $62 million contract extension. He reciprocated by hitting .154 with runners in scoring position while batting fifth.

Awkward.

"I know he cares and it bothers him," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said earlier Sunday.

The bad run might be over now, which would be good because Uggla probably is running out of outfits. He scored all three of the Braves' runs in their 3-2 victory over Philadelphia at Turner Field. He singled, went to third on a hit and scored on an infield hit. He walked, went to third on a single (head-first slide) and scored on a sacrifice fly. Then in the eighth inning, with the score tied 2-2 - and with Chipper Jones (knee) and Jason Heyward (shoulder) not available for a late-game heroics - Uggla cracked a Roy Halladay sinker over the left-centerfield wall to give the Braves the lead.

If this is where Uggla starts turning into the offensive force that the Braves have expected, give him points for timing. The victory enabled them to win their second straight series over Philadelphia, the team they figure to battle all season for the National League East.

That assumes they also can figure out a way to win a series from the Washington Nationals."