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Bergmann nearly unhittable as Nationals down Braves

May 15, 2007 - 3:06 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- In search of his first career win as a starter, Jason Bergmann decided to put it all on himself.

Bergmann took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and Cristian Guzman had two hits as the Washington Nationals downed the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, on Monday.

Bergmann (1-3) tossed seven frames of hitless ball before surrendering a solo shot to Brian McCann to open in the eighth inning.

"We knew what he pitches, we know what he throws, we just couldn't hit him," Braves outfielder Andruw Jones said. "He's just got our number right now."

"It was an unbelievable feeling," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "I thought he was going to do it, he looked like he's in control out there."

The 25-year-old righthander yielded only two hits and a walk with a career-high 10 strikeouts before departing to a standing ovation from the home crowd after allowing a single to Matt Diaz to lead off the ninth.

"All my pitches were working," Bergmann said. "I was very relaxed out there. We just executed our game plan."

Reliever Jesus Colome, taking the place of an unavailable fill-in closer Jon Rauch, relieved Bergmann and worked around a single from Edgar Renteria to record his first save in two chances for Washington, which won their season-best fourth straight contest.

"I wasn't concerned handing it to our bullpen," Bergmann said. "It's business as usual for them."

A no-hit bid being taken into the later innings is becoming somewhat a routine lately for the Nationals, as Shaun Hill and Winston Abreu combined to keep the Florida Marlins hitless through six innings on Friday before allowing a hit to open the seventh frame.

Guzman had the first two hits for the Nationals and scored the first run on an RBI groundout from Ryan Zimmerman in the bottom of the first to give Washington a quick 1-0 lead.

"I'm very happy to contribute to the win against a tough pitcher," Guzman said.

The offense was held in check by Atlanta starter John Smoltz (5-2) until the seventh, when Austin Kearns followed a leadoff single by Ryan Church with an RBI double to push the Nationals' advantage to 2-0.

"It's a tough loss for us," Smoltz said. "I feel like I'm on top of my game right now. I've never felt so in control this season."

Smoltz left the game three batters later after a play in which Kearns - caught in a failed suicide squeeze - was caught in a rundown and was tagged out by Smoltz, but not before he clutched his right hand and was attended to immediately by the team trainers. He was removed immediately for reliever Tyler Yates.

After the game, the team announced that the righthander had dislocated his right pinky finger on the play.

"It's a fluke thing," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "His (Kearns') elbow hit his pinky. It could have been worse."

Smoltz, who will turn 40 on Tuesday, allowed two runs and four hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Smoltz failed in his attempt to win his fourth straight game.

"I'm really disappointed," Smoltz said. "I was hoping to play golf tomorrow for my birthday, but it looks like I will just be riding around in the golf cart."