Nationals win two in a row, edge Braves

Baseball Betting Lines

04/21/2009 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shairon Martis now has two of Washington's three wins on the season, throwing six solid innings as the Nationals managed to slip by Atlanta, 4-3.

The 22-year-old Martis (2-0), who was credited with Washington's first win of the season against Philadelphia on April 16, scattered six hits and four walks while yielding three runs -- only two earned -- in the hard-fought win.

Joel Hanrahan had two blown saves last week but recorded his second save in as many nights with a very shaky ninth frame.

Austin Kearns tripled in the tying run and Josh Willingham plated the Nats' go-ahead tally during a three-run sixth inning for Washington, which has won back-to-back games after a 1-10 start to the year. Adam Dunn belted a solo homer for the victors.

Atlanta's Kenshin Kawakami (1-2) was the hard-luck loser, lasting five-plus innings and allowing four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits. Casey Kotchman had two hits and an RBI for the Braves, who have lost seven of eight.

The game was delayed 61 minutes due to rain.

After Dunn cut Washington's deficit to 3-2 with a leadoff homer in the sixth, a pair of fielding miscues by Atlanta helped the Nats take the lead.

Chipper Jones couldn't handle Elijah Dukes' shot to the hot corner, and Kearns followed with a line drive to left that Matt Diaz misplayed, causing Kearns to end up with an RBI triple.

Jeff Bennett then relieved Kawakami and got two quick outs, but Willingham's pinch-hit single to left plated the go-ahead run.

Another mental error for Atlanta, this time on the basepaths, kept the visitors from tying things in the seventh, as Martin Prado was thrown out trying to steal third with two away and Jones at the plate.

Hanrahan allowed a leadoff walk and a double to open the ninth, but the closer settled down, getting a groundout from pinch-hitter Greg Norton, a short fly out from Kelly Johnson and a sharp grounder to second from Yunel Escobar to end the game.

Consecutive two-out walks to Jones and Brian McCann proved costly for Martis in the first inning, as Kotchman followed with a run-scoring double. Jeff Francoeur then bounced a ball into the hole between short and third, causing Gonzalez to rush his throw to first. The throw got away from the first baseman and two runs came around for a 3-0 lead.

The Nationals got a run back in the second on Jesus Flores' RBI double.

Game Notes

Before the game, the Nats placed pitcher Joe Beimel on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Saul Rivera from Triple-A Syracuse...McCann returned to the lineup after being sidelined for two games with blurred vision...The Braves swept the Nationals at home in three games from April 10-12.

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