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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals 7/4/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
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		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:38 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:38 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
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				<title><![CDATA[Nationals rally for 5-3 win over Braves]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON(AP) -- A mammoth milestone home run by Adam Dunn was
upstaged by his simple single that helped Washington rally to
beat Atlanta.

Atlanta's Tommy Hanson extended his scoreless innings streak to
26 before Dunn's 300th career homer and the Washington Nationals
rallied for four eighth-inning runs and a 5-3 victory over the
Braves on Saturday.

"That 300th home run would have been hard to talk about. It
would have been a useless home run if we hadn't won the game,"
said Dunn, whose RBI single off Eric O'Flaherty snapped a 3-all
tie.

Hanson departed with a 3-1 lead after seven innings and was in
line for his fifth straight victory before the Braves bullpen
blew up, halting Atlanta's winning streak at a season-high five.

"It was remarkable," said Nationals manager Manny Acta.

Mike Gonzalez (3-1) loaded the bases with one down in the eighth
on a pinch-hit single by Ronnie Belliard and a pair of walks
before Peter Moylan relieved and yielded a two-run, game-tying
single to Ryan Zimmerman.

O'Flaherty replaced Moylan and was greeted by Dunn's decisive
single up the middle on the first pitch he threw. Josh
Willingham followed with an RBI single to left.

"That's the most frustrating part right now. I could really care
less about how I did. Tommy goes out there and does such a great
job, and obviously our offense is doing really well," Gonzalez
said. "We're playing really good ball. Hopefully this doesn't
put a chink in what we're doing right now."

Atlanta's bullpen had pitched to a 3.98 ERA and had retired 167
of 243 first batters faced (69 percent) before Saturday's
implosion.

"It's been terrific. I don't think we're ever due (for a bad
game), but it happens. You're not going to be perfect all the
time," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Lannan was the beneficiary of the rally. The left-hander allowed
three runs and nine hits in eight innings, ending Washington's
losing streak at four games. Lannan (6-5) walked one and struck
out one.

Mike MacDougal worked the ninth for his fourth save, escaping a
two-on, one-out jam.

Hanson, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on June 7 to
make his major league debut, took a no-decision in that game and
has yet to lose. He allowed only Nick Johnson's single to center
in the first and a second-inning infield hit by Anderson
Hernandez over the first six innings.

The right-hander walked one and struck out five, lowering his
ERA to 2.25 in a 105-pitch effort.

Acta said Hanson deviated from the video scouting report the
Nationals had on him, not hurting himself with walks and failing
to fall into pitch patterns hitters could recognize.

When asked what was working for him, Hanson said: "I think
everything. I felt good with all my pitches and my command of
everything. I was just trying to keep them off balance and it
worked out."

Dunn hit his milestone blast leading off the seventh, crushing a
2-2 fastball deep into the second deck in right field to ruin
Hanson's shutout bid. The 29-year-old is the fifth player major
league history to reach that total in less than 4,200 at-bats,
succeeding in his 4,145th at-bat. The others are Babe Ruth
(3,830), Mark McGwire (3,837), Ralph Kiner (3,883) and Harmon
Killebrew (3,928).

The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the third on Nate McLouth's RBI
single. Brooks Conrad led off with a single to center, moved to
second on Hanson's sacrifice bunt and scored when McLouth
blooped a single over second base.

In the sixth, McLouth drew a leadoff walk and Martin Prado
followed with a double to left before consecutive RBI singles to
center by Chipper Jones and Garret Anderson made it 3-0.

NOTES: Lannan has thrown six straight quality starts. ...
Atlanta and Washington are tied for the National League lead
with nine victories from rookie starting pitchers. ...
Washington is 3-2 on July 4 since moving from Montreal before
the 2005 season, winning three straight on Independence Day. ...
Braves OF Matt Diaz is 11 for 17 (.647) with five RBIs in his
last five games. ... Dunn's 300th home run ball was caught by
U.S. Army Col. William Sanders, who returned it to Dunn, asking
for nothing in return. Dunn gave him an autographed jersey, a
couple of autographed baseballs and told Sanders to call him if
he ever wanted tickets to a game.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105451-Nationals-rally-for-5-3-win-over-Braves</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105451-Nationals-rally-for-5-3-win-over-Braves</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:00:08 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Braves-Nationals Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BRETT HUSTON
STATS Writer

Atlanta (38-40) at Washington (22-54), 1:05 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves are looking more and more like a threat in
the NL East, and their recent success at the plate has helped
them make a move in the standings.

Having Tommy Hanson hasn't hurt, either.

Atlanta's rookie sensation hasn't allowed a run in his past
three starts, and he'll look to remain unbeaten in the major
leagues and lead the visiting Braves to a sixth consecutive
victory Saturday afternoon against the Washington Nationals.

Atlanta (39-40) began the week 26th in the majors in runs per
game (4.11), but 30 runs over its past four contests have paved
the way for a five-game winning streak.

The Braves only scored twice in the first game of the streak,
but that was all they needed. That's because Hanson (4-0, 2.48
ERA) limited powerful Boston to two hits over six shutout
innings, fighting off the flu on his way to a 2-1 victory.

The right-hander hasn't allowed a run in 20 innings dating to
the third inning June 12 at Baltimore, in his first major league
win. Hanson's shutout streak is the longest by an Atlanta rookie
starter since Pete Smith tossed 20 scoreless innings in 1988.

"He's got great poise," third baseman Chipper Jones told the
Braves' official Web site "You can have all the stuff in the
world, but if you have a rock for a brain and not real good
nerves, this game is going to get the best of you."

Hanson is the first Braves rookie since 1900 to hold his
opponents scoreless in three consecutive starts.

"He gets focused," manager Bobby Cox said. "All of that plays
into his game. His mound presence is really good."

Hanson's first matchup with Washington (22-55) wouldn't seem to
be a cause for concern, but the Nationals had some offensive
success in Friday's series opener against the Braves.

Still, three RBIs from Cristian Guzman and a homer from Adam
Dunn didn't make a difference as Washington lost its fourth
straight. Jones, Yunel Escobar and Matt Diaz drove in two runs
apiece and a pinch-hit three-run homer from Brooks Conrad in his
Braves debut lifted Atlanta to a 9-8 win.

"Had we not come in on our longest winning streak of the season,
we might have been primed for a letdown," Jones said. "But I
think everybody is starting to feel like we got a good streak
going and we don't want it to end - (we) certainly don't want it
to end here."

Atlanta hasn't won six in a row since May 2-8, 2008.

The Braves have gotten production from some unexpected sources
during their current streak. Diaz is 9 for 14 (.643) with a
homer and five RBIs over his last four games, while second
baseman Martin Prado is 10 for 18 (.556) with a homer and six
RBIs.

Atlanta's offense could have its hands full, however, as it
faces John Lannan (5-5, 3.45) for the third time this season.
The Nationals' left-hander has had five consecutive quality
starts, and Sunday at Baltimore he gave up three runs and six
hits over 7 1-3 innings in a 5-3 win.

"We expect that out of him - these type of outings every five
days," manager Manny Acta told the Nationals' official Web site.
"He gives us a chance to be in the ballgame."

Lannan is 2-2 with a 3.30 ERA in five career starts against the
Braves, including 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA this season.

Outfielder Jeff Francoeur is 6 for 12 with a homer and five RBIs
versus Lannan, who is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in eight home starts.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105395-Braves-Nationals-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105395-Braves-Nationals-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:10:16 GMT</pubDate>
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