Parr gets victory in major league debut

ATLANTA --- James Parr didn't change a thing in his major league debut.

Parr tossed six shutout innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Thursday night.

Parr (1-0) surrendered just two hits -- both to Ronnie Belliard -- walked three and struck out three and didn't allow a runner past second base.

The 22-year-old right-hander was 5-3 at Triple-A Richmond, 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his past three starts.

"I didn't want to change anything. I just pitched the way I had been," said Parr, who was born and lives in Albuquerque, N.M. His mom, dad, girlfriend, other relatives and friends were in the stands. "I was glad my family was here."

"I was a little nervous, just uncomfortable early. It was very uncharacteristic of me to walk three guys (all in first three innings). I struggled early, then turned it around later," said Parr.

He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes. His fastball was never clocked at more than 88 mph.

"What a night he had," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "He's sneaky quick. He doesn't light up the radar gun, but he's got a little looping curve and a change-up. I was impressed."

Jeff Bennett worked the seventh, Julian Tavarez pitched the eighth and Mike Gonzalez got three outs to complete the five-hitter, Atlanta's seventh shutout of the season. Gonzalez struck out the side after Ryan Zimmerman's leadoff double.

Gonzalez has converted all nine of his save opportunities this season and 39 in a row overall, the longest current streak in the major leagues, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He has not blown a save since June 25, 2004, for Pittsburgh at Cincinnati.

Former Augusta GreenJacket Shairon Martis (0-1) also pitched well for Washington in his major league debut, allowing two runs and four hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out two.

"I think I did pretty well. Five innings. I'm happy with it," said Martis, who pitched for the Netherlands in the Olympics in China. He was acquired from the Giants in 2006 for Mike Stanton.