• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Nationals' Bergmann comes off DL to face Braves

Jun 25, 2007 - 1:50 PM Washington (32-43) at Atlanta (38-38) 7:05 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Jason Bergmann will make his return from the disabled list when the Washington Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves in Monday's opener of a three-game series at Turner Field.

On Sunday afternoon, Jason Simontacchi tossed six solid innings and rookie Jesus Flores knocked in two runs for the Nationals, who posted a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the rubber game of their three-game interleague series.

Ronnie Belliard stroked three hits for Washington, which won for just the third time in its last nine games, sealing its third series win in its last five.

The Nationals will now recall Bergmann (1-3, 2.76 ERA) from the 15-day DL. The righthander has been sidelined since May 15 with elbow inflammation.

Bergmann had pitched well prior to the injury, allowing just a run in each of his last two starts. On May 14, he yielded a run and two hits while striking out 10 batters in eight innings for a 2-1 win over Atlanta.

The Braves will turn to Tim Hudson (6-5, 3.43), who has not won since May 30. The righthander had been one of the hottest pitchers in the league for the first two months of the season but has slowed down of late.

Hudson gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

Atlanta has lost five in a row following a 5-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

The Braves have managed just one run over their last five games, spanning 46 innings. That stretch is the worst streak of scoring futility for a major league club since May 8-14, 1985, when Atlanta also accomplished the dubious mark.