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		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals 7/5/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
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		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:19:18 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:19:18 GMT</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Olsen pitches Nationals to 5-3 victory over Braves]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON(AP) -- Scott Olsen watched Washington manager Manny
Acta stroll to the mound in the eighth inning and figured his
day was done. With the two down and the Nationals ahead 4-1,
Olsen had walked two hitters to bring the potential tying run to
the plate.

Imagine Olsen's surprise when he didn't get the hook.

"I told him to tell all these people to save their applause
because you're getting out of it," Acta said.

Olsen pitched into the ninth inning, newly acquired Nyjer Morgan
had three hits and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta
Braves 5-3 on Sunday for their second straight victory.

"It was good, it was satisfying," said Olsen. "I did OK. I threw
the ball down in the zone pretty well for the most part. I kept
them off-balance with the offspeed pitches. Too many walks for
my liking there, but we did pretty good."

Olsen (2-4) allowed three runs and eight hits over 8 2-3
innings, prevailing for the first time since returning June 28
from the 15-day disabled list after a bout with left shoulder
tendinitis. He walked five and struck out five.

"Today, he was the old Scott Olsen," Acta said. "He was throwing
90 mph after 100 pitches in the ninth inning."

The only thing that eluded Olsen was his first career complete
game.

"I got a glance at my pitch count in the seventh or so, and I
saw it was low, so I knew I had a chance. It kind of fell apart
pretty quickly in the ninth inning. ... It gave me confidence
that (Acta) had confidence in me," Olsen said.

Olsen helped his own cause with his first two hits of the
season, including an RBI single. But he was removed after Nate
McLouth's two-out, two-run homer in the ninth cut the lead to
two runs.

Derek Lowe (7-7), who signed a four-year, $60 million free-agent
contract with the Braves in the offseason, lost for the fourth
time in his past five starts. The right-hander lasted 5 1-3
innings, allowing four runs and 10 hits.

"It's been kind of the theme over the last four weeks. It just
seems like a struggle every time out," Lowe said. "It's
definitely been a frustrating five or six starts."

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox isn't overly concerned that the
veteran pitcher is scuffling.

"He's better than what he showed the last couple games," Cox
said. ""My understanding is he always has this a little bit.
We'll see what happens."

Martin Prado matched a career high with four hits for Atlanta,
which has dropped four straight road series.

Mike MacDougal got the final out for his fifth save.

Morgan, acquired from Pittsburgh with right-handed reliever Sean
Burnett in a Tuesday trade, ended an 0-for-7 slide with his
first hits as a National. He also contributed defensively,
throwing out Prado trying to stretch a single into a double in
the eighth after missing a diving catch in left-center.

"Pitching and defense wins games," Acta said. "(Morgan)
electrifies everything."

Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first when Morgan hit a
leadoff single, stole second and scored on Ryan Zimmerman's
single to right.

A two-run second made it 3-0. Cristian Guzman singled with one
down and scored on Ronnie Belliard's two-out double to center,
Belliard's first RBI since June 2. Belliard moved to third on
the throw home, then scored on Olsen's bloop single to left.

Atlanta got on the board in the third when McLouth singled with
one out, went to third on Prado's double to left and scored on
Chipper Jones' sacrifice fly.

Lowe departed after loading the bases in the sixth on a Josh
Bard double, a walk to Belliard and Olsen's second single. Boone
Logan relieved and got Morgan to bounce into a fielder's choice
forceout at home before Nick Johnson lined an RBI single to left
for a 4-1 lead.

In the eighth, Morgan doubled home Belliard, who led off with a
single and moved up on Olsen's sacrifice bunt.

NOTES: Before the game, the Nationals recalled RHP Jason
Bergmann from Triple-A Syracuse to work out of the bullpen. ...
Atlanta is 4-11 at Nationals Park since it opened last year. ...
Before going 2 for 3, Olsen had been 0 for 10 with five
strikeouts. ... Prado has hit safely in nine of 11 games, going
22-for-43 (.512) over that span.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105596-Olsen-pitches-Nationals-to-5-3-victory-over-Braves</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105596-Olsen-pitches-Nationals-to-5-3-victory-over-Braves</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:22:01 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Braves-Nationals Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Senior Writer

Atlanta (39-40) at Washington (22-55), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves hope their latest defeat doesn't hurt the
collective confidence they've gained over the last week.

On Sunday, the visiting Braves look to bounce back from having
their season-high, five-game winning streak snapped while
concluding a three-game set with the Washington Nationals.

Looking to get back to .500, Atlanta's bullpen couldn't hold a
two-run lead and gave up four runs in the eighth inning of a 5-3
loss Saturday. Prior to the defeat, Braves relievers had a 3.98
ERA, but they wasted another strong outing from rookie Tommy
Hanson.

Atlanta (39-41) hopes Saturday's meltdown won't be the beginning
of another streak that's headed in the wrong direction. The
Braves' stretch of five consecutive wins followed a four-game
skid.

"We're playing really good ball," reliever Mike Gonzalez said.
"Hopefully this doesn't put a chink in what we're doing right
now."

Adam Dunn snapped a 3-all tie in the eighth with an RBI single
for the Nationals (23-55), one inning after he hit his 300th
career homer and second in as many games.

The 29-year-old Dunn is the fifth player in major league history
to reach that total in less than 4,200 at-bats, succeeding in
his 4,145th. He joins Babe Ruth (3,830), Mark McGwire (3,837),
Ralph Kiner (3,883) and Harmon Killebrew (3,928).

"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, who has 22 homers, including four with eight RBIs
during a six-game hitting streak.

Though Dunn has homered in three of his last four games versus
Atlanta, he's 1 for 16 against scheduled starter Derek Lowe
(7-6, 4.44 ERA).

After going 0-3 with a 12.34 ERA in his previous three starts,
Lowe allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings of a 5-4,
10-inning victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The right-hander is 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA in eight starts versus
the Nationals but went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two April outings
against them.

After snapping a four-game losing streak by winning for the
third time in 12 contests, Washington counters with Scott Olsen
(1-4, 6.56).

In his first start since missing more than a month with shoulder
tendinitis, the left-hander gave up two runs and six hits while
striking out seven without a walk in seven innings, but didn't
factor in the decision of a 4-2 loss at Florida on Monday.

"It was encouraging to see Olsen pitch that well," manager Manny
Acta told the Nationals' official Web site. "It was a tremendous
outing. You couldn't ask for anything better."

Olsen gave up five runs in five innings of an 8-5 loss to the
Braves on April 12. He's 2-5 with a 6.75 ERA in 11 starts versus
them.

Garrett Anderson had two hits and an RBI on Saturday for the
Braves, who scored 32 runs while batting .318 during their
five-game winning streak. Anderson is hitting .370 (10 for 27)
with four RBIs in his last eight contests.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105507-Braves-Nationals-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105507-Braves-Nationals-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:30:19 GMT</pubDate>
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