The Associated Press

ATLANTA - Here's a change: The Atlanta Braves will have sellout crowds at Turner Field for the first two games of their playoff series against the Chicago Cubs.

Of course, there were a bunch of Cubs' fans filling the seats.

"Our fans are everywhere," Chicago manager Dusty Baker said.

The Braves have failed to sell out at least 15 postseason games since moving to Turner Field in 1997. This year, they benefited from playing the Cubs, which led to a more favorable television schedule.

Hoping to cash in on Chicago's popularity and surprising success, TV executives scheduled the first two games in prime time, which made it easier for Atlanta fans to attend after work.

Atlanta hasn't sold out any postseason games the last two years, but demand was so strong that 3,000 standing-room tickets were put on sale for each of the first two games.

The Cubs set an attendance record this season, though reliever Mike Remlinger wonders how Chicago's fans would react to prolonged success.

"If we won the division 12 years in a row, would we still get a sellout in the first round?" he said. "I'd like to find out."

A prime-time natural

San Francisco executive vice president Larry Baer understands television - he used to work for CBS. So he isn't going to complain about San Francisco not playing in prime time.

"The Cubs are a great story," Baer said before Game 1 at Pacific Bell Park on Tuesday. "How can anybody say the Cubs aren't a great story? TV revolves around soap-opera stories, magical moments and great story lines. And the Cubs are a great story line."

Nomar returns

Nomar Garciaparra is back at work after a rare day away from the Boston Red Sox.

The star shortstop skipped the regular-season finale at Tampa Bay on Sunday to watch his fiancee, Mia Hamm, play in the Women's World Cup in Columbus. Garciaparra said Red Sox management approached him about skipping the game against the Devil Rays, and then he went around the clubhouse making sure it was OK.

"I brought it up to teammates ... and they were like, 'You've got to do it,' " Garciaparra said.