Atlanta drops fifth in a row
NATIONALS 6, BRAVES 4 (11 INN)
Associated Press
Sunday, October 04, 2009

ATLANTA --- The Washington Nationals are playing as if they were contenders the last week of the season, not the team that has the worst record in the majors.

Justin Maxwell hit a two-out, two-run homer in the 11th inning and Washington beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Saturday for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Nationals still have a dismal record at 58-103, but have beaten the Braves, who have lost five in a row, three consecutive times.

Maxwell hit a game-ending grand slam off the Mets' Francisco Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 7-4 win over New York on Wednesday.

"He's making some strikes. It's like he's kind of found something," Washington manager Jim Riggleman said of Maxwell, who is hitting over .300 since his recall on Aug. 30 from Syracuse.

After both teams scored two runs in the 10th, former Brave Pete Orr singled with one out in the top of the 11th and moved up on a sacrifice. Maxwell followed with his fourth homer, a drive over the right-field fence against Manny Acosta (1-1).

"Jim told me after Orr's hit that he was going to sacrifice and just wanted me to drive him in. To just look for a pitch and hit it and I got one," Maxwell said.

"I'm just trying to do my job. Not do too much. Just put the ball in play. It felt good. This game is all about confidence. There's nothing to think about when you're in the box. Just hit the ball."

Zack Segovia (1-0) earned his first win despite giving up two runs in the 10th. Atlanta tied it at 4 on an RBI double by pinch hitter Kelly Johnson and run-scoring single by pinch hitter Greg Norton.

Logan Kensing got his first save of the season with a scoreless 11th.

Pinch hitter Christian Guzman hit a two-out, two-run double in the 10th that put Washington ahead 4-2.

The Braves had won 15 of 17 to get within two games of Colorado in the wild-card chase on Monday before the latest losing streak.

"It just stinks, but when you're out of it, you're out of it," Atlanta first baseman Adam LaRoche said.

"Second place is nice, but you're not playing for the prize we wanted," he said. "There's no excuse not to go out and still get the job done."

Atlanta reliever Peter Moylan got the first two outs in the 10th before Ryan Zimmerman doubled. Adam Dunn was intentionally walked before Guzman doubled over the head of right fielder Omar Infante.

The Nationals had taken a 2-0 lead on a first-inning RBI single by Zimmerman and a solo home run by rookie Ian Desmond in the fourth off Jair Jurrjens.

The Braves tied it at 2 on a two-out, two-run single by Brian McCann off Ron Villone in the sixth.

Jurrjens went eight innings, gave up five hits and struck out nine. Washington starter Ross Detwiler went five innings and allowed one hit, a bunt single to Nate McLouth leading off the game.

From the Sunday, October 04, 2009 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
Reader Comments
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Augusta Chronicle. Please read our full comments policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the icon.
Your comment will be attributed to
YOUR MESSAGE:
You have 1200 characters left.


advertisement

advertisement

TopJobs


Augusta-area Top Jobs
Construction Labor $13-15 | hr on-site work. Call (706)868-6800 Full time Permanent Work Pro Resources $185 J#309 INTERVIEWING NOW! (more)
Analyze Records Child Support Recovery $-22 | hr Enter child support info into files. 706.868.6800 Full time position with local corrections facility. Pro Resources $185 J291 PERM (more)
CLIENT SERVICES Call Center | Inside Sales NO TELEMARKETING! Answer sales calls & some outbound. $9-11+ | hr. Days! Full Time + Benefits! Fax Resume to: (706)868-9090 Email mgrhr05@yahoo.com (more)


© 2009 The Augusta Chronicle|Terms of service|About our ads|Help|Contact us|Subscribe|Local business listings


advertisement
advertisement