Braves' bullpen blows lead

WASHINGTON - On the same day Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox officially acknowledged Kyle Farnsworth as the team's closer, it became evident yet again that there are middle-inning relief issues abound with the National League East's pacesetters.

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The four-spot hung on the Braves' bullpen in the eighth gave Washington an 8-6, come-from-behind victory at RFK Stadium on Friday night.

It appeared it would be another MVP rsum-building night for Andruw Jones, who drove in four runs, three on a pivotal home run in the fifth that put the Braves up 6-2.

But that was long before the walk-a-thon.

In the eighth, Kyle Davies and John Foster (4-2) combined to walk three Nationals and blow a two-run lead.

"You get beat if you walk guys," Cox said, "and we did tonight."

Added Davies, who started the eighth with a pair of free passes: "You don't want to walk anybody ever, but especially late in the game in a close ballgame."

The drama in front of 36,295 fans that had RFK literally bouncing by night's end might have served to save Washington's still- flickering postseason hopes. The Nats are 9 games behind Atlanta, but Houston and Florida's losses propelled them to three games back in the wild card.

"If we don't win this game, we're done," said Jose Guillen, who was fist-pumping his way into second after the go-ahead two-run double off Dan Kolb that followed Foster's walk to pinch hitter Carlos Baerga.

The loss didn't bury the Braves, as they kept their six-game lead over the Marlins, who were clubbed 12-5 by Philadelphia. But it was yet another sign that Washington intends to make things difficult for Atlanta in this cavernous old venue that's a throwback to the all-but-thrown away cookie-cutter stadiums.

Washington is 5-2 this season against the Braves at RFK. And, of those five losses, Friday wasn't the first example of Braves bullpen dysfunction here this year; but it's September, not June or April.

"We should have won that game," Davies said.

The Nationals' rally spoiled another most valuable-type moment for Jones, who is now one home run shy of Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews' franchise record of 47 home runs. He is now tied with Mathews' 1959 second-place mark. He also leads the NL with 118 RBI.

Reach Travis Haney at travis.haney@morris.com.