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Kawakami makes debut when Braves face winless Nationals

Apr 11, 2009 - 7:10 AM By Jeff Mezydlo Stats Senior Writer

Washington (0-4) at Atlanta (3-1) 7:10 p.m. EDT

ATLANTA (AP) -- Kenshin Kawakami is set to become the first Japanese player to take the field for the Atlanta Braves. He'll do so against the only winless team in the National League.

The 33-year-old pitcher looks to help the Braves to a second straight victory Saturday night as they continue their series against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field.

After spending 13 seasons as one of the top pitchers in Japan's Central League, Kawakami signed a three-year deal with Atlanta in January. Known for his consistent control, Kawakami was the Central League's MVP in 2004 and a Sawamura Award winner - equivalent to the Cy Young Award.

The right-hander, who went 66-35 with a 3.12 ERA over his past five seasons, struggled in his final spring outing when he walked seven in 2 2/3 innings of an exhibition loss to Detroit at Turner Field last Saturday.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox doesn't seem worried that will carry over to his official debut.

"I've got a lot of confidence in him," Cox told the Braves' official Web site. "I think he'll be fine."

Kawakami expects to take something from that outing against Washington, which joins Cleveland as the only winless team in the majors.

"I learned a lot," Kawakami said. "I'm just going to have to adjust."

The Braves put the Nationals in position to earn their first victory after Mike Gonzalez couldn't hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Friday's series opener. Kelly Johnson, however, delivered a run-scoring single in the 10th to give Atlanta a 6-5 win in a game that was delayed 2 hours and 2 minutes by rain.

Johnson, Yunel Escobar and Brian McCann each had three hits for Atlanta, which blew a 4-1 lead in this contest, but bounced back after squandering a seven-run lead in a 12-11 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Escobar, who had a three-run homer Friday, is batting .389 (7-for-18). McCann is 6-for-15 with six RBI and 3-for-8 against Washington's scheduled starter John Lannan.

Lannan (0-1, 18.00) was roughed up in a 12-6 season-opening loss at Florida on Monday. He allowed six runs and six hits - two homers - in three innings against the Marlins.

"He is trying to do too much. He is leaving balls over the plate and cutting off his breaking balls," pitching coach Randy St. Claire told the Nationals' official Web site. "I think it's an adjustment of staying aggressive and not trying to do too much."

The left-hander, who went 9-15 in his first full season as a starter in 2008, is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA against Atlanta.

Ryan Zimmerman drove in two runs and Elijah Dukes had three hits for the Nationals, who left 16 runners on base Friday.

"I don't think I've ever seen in my career four times the bases loaded with one out and not be able to score runs," said Washington manager Manny Acta. "We can't blame anybody but ourselves."

Dukes, who is 4-for-9 in his last two games, could miss this contest after appearing to injure himself trying to throw out Johnson at the plate on the final play Friday.

Zimmerman is batting .318 with five homers and 19 RBI in his last 20 games against the Braves.

The Nationals franchise hasn't opened with five straight losses since 1998 when it was based in Montreal.