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Nationals try for back-to-back wins vs. Braves

Apr 21, 2009 - 5:59 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

Atlanta (6-7) at Washington, 7:05 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Last time out, Shairon Martis gave the Nationals a much-needed quality start for their first victory of the season. On Tuesday night, he'll try to lead Washington to its first back-to-back wins and an eighth straight home victory against the Atlanta Braves.

After the Nationals tied a franchise record with seven losses to open the season, Martis (1-0, 4.82 ERA) gave up two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings as Washington defeated the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies 8-2 on Thursday.

"This was a very important outing," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "Starting the season 0-7, with all the pressure of 'Who's going to win the first game?' 'Who's going to have the first quality start?'"

Martis didn't in his first start of the season - a 6-5, 10-inning loss in Atlanta on April 10. Limited to three innings because of a two-hour, two-minute rain delay in the fourth, the 22-year-old right-hander gave up three runs and five hits.

The teams endured a two-hour and 10-minute rain delay prior to Monday's series opener, then waited another 33 minutes before the rain-soaked field was uncovered and the Nationals won 3-2 before 12,473, a franchise low since the team relocated from Montreal.

"Pretty impressive," Acta said of Jordan Zimmermann, who gave up two runs and six hits in six innings to win his major league debut. "Especially that this wasn't the nicest day to play baseball."

Martis will look to follow up that effort with his first career win against Atlanta. He he 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in two career starts versus the Braves.

While Washington (2-10) tries to win two straight for the first time this season, the Braves (6-7) look for Kenshin Kawakami (1-1, 5.25) to have another solid outing against the Nationals.

In his major league debut April 11, Kawakami gave up three runs and four hits in six innings in a 5-3 win over Washington.

"I thought for his first appearance in the United States, he was outstanding, a great addition to the team," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said of the 33-year-old right-hander, who signed a three-year contract with the Braves in January.

In his last appearance, Kawakami allowed five runs and five hits over six innings in a 6-2 loss to Florida on Thursday. He is averaging 7.5 strikeouts in two starts but has walked seven in those appearances.

"KK did good," Chipper Jones said after the April 11 victory. "He started a little wild, but effectively wild."

In his second game back since missing four with a bruised thumb, Jones went 1-for-4 with a triple on Monday. He scored on Matt Diaz's fourth-inning home run.

Jones is 1-for-3 with two walks lifetime against Martis.

Atlanta catcher Brian McCann missed his second straight game Monday and is questionable Tuesday. He is scheduled to meet with an eye doctor Tuesday due to blurriness in his left eye. McCann has one hit in his last 20 at-bats.

"He can come into a game and help you, but right now we don't want to start him," Cox said.

McCann is 3-for-4 with two doubles in his career versus Martis.

Washington catcher Jesus Flores went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs in Monday's victory. He was 1-for-7 as Atlanta swept the three-game series at Turner Field earlier this month.

In his first game since the team announced his five-year, $45 million contract extension, Ryan Zimmerman went 1-for-4 and scored a run. He hit a two-run homer off Kawakami in the third inning before the Braves scored five unanswered runs.

Atlanta's last victory at Nationals Park was 10-2 on April 12, 2008.