GAME THREAD: NL: WASHINGTON (32-45) at ATLANTA (40-38)

NL: WASHINGTON (32-45) at ATLANTA (40-38)

<h3>Smoltz to start as Braves go for sweep</h3>



ATLANTA (Ticker) - John Smoltz takes the mound as the AtlantaBraves look to get a sweep in the finale of a three-game serieswith the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

Smoltz (8-4, 3.14 ERA) is coming off his worst start in twomonths, surrendering five runs and eight hits with a walk andseven strikeouts over six innings in a 5-0 loss to the DetroitTigers on Friday.

The 40-year-old righthander has posted a 1-2 record with a 4.50ERA and 18 strikeouts in three starts this month.

If Atlanta completes the sweep, it will be the first since theopening series of the season against the Philadelphia Philliesfrom April 2-5.

The Nationals will counter with Micah Bowie (4-2, 3.63), who hasnot lost since moving to the rotation on May 20.

Bowie is 4-0 with a 3.60 ERA in seven starts this season.Washington is undefeated when the 32-year-old lefthander getsthe start this season.

Despite Bowie's success, the Nationals have struggled recently,losing eight of their last 11 games, including a 6-2 setback onTuesday.

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON AT ATLANTA -- LINEUPS

WASHINGTON ATLANTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Ryan Langerhans CF .178 3 14 Yunel Escobar 2B .273 1 5
Felipe Lopez SS .237 3 29 Edgar Renteria SS .322 10 36
Ryan Zimmerman 3B .247 12 42 Chipper Jones 3B .319 13 28
Dmitri Young 1B .342 7 36 Andruw Jones CF .198 12 45
Austin Kearns RF .254 5 26 Jeff Francoeur RF .273 8 46
Ryan Church LF .260 7 35 Brian Mccann C .264 6 39
Ronnie Belliard 2B .295 2 17 Matt Diaz LF .333 4 15
Brian Schneider C .251 4 31 Jarrod Saltalamacc 1B .329 4 10
Micah Bowie LHP .100 0 1 John Smoltz RHP .087 0 0
(4-2, 3.63) (8-4, 3.14)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA
WARMUPS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE (4-2, 3.63)
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (8-4, 3.14)

UMPIRES: HP - TIM MCCLELLAND
1B - CHAD FAIRCHILD
2B - MARTY FOSTER
3B - FIELDIN CULBRETH

WEATHER: 91 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA
STARTING BATS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE AND BRIAN SCHNEIDER
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R LANGERHAN (.178, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
F LOPEZ (.237, 3 HR, 29 RBI)
R ZIMMERMAN (.247, 12 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 0 1 0
ATLANTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.273, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
E RENTERIA (.322, 10 HR, 36 RBI)
C JONES (.319, 13 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Langerhans cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .177
F Lopez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
R Church lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
R Belliard 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
M Bowie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. Team LOB - 1.


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
E Renteria ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 0 -- 0
ATLANTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Bowie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.63

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.10

WP - J Smoltz. Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 1-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHIPPER JONES SCORED YUNEL ESCOBAR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C JONES ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0
ATLANTA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.198, 12 HR, 45 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 0 1 0
ATLANTA 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: A KEARNS (.254, 5 HR, 26 RBI)
R CHURCH (.260, 7 HR, 35 RBI)
R BELLIARD (.295, 2 HR, 17 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Langerhans cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .177
F Lopez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
R Church lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
R Belliard 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
B Schneider c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
M Bowie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Lopez-R Belliard-D Young).


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .197
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - Y Escobar (5, M Bowie). RBI - C Jones (29). GIDP - A Jones. Team
LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 0 -- 0
ATLANTA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Bowie 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.74

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.10

WP - J Smoltz. Pitches-strikes: M Bowie 12-8; J Smoltz 18-11. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Bowie 3-0; J Smoltz 1-1. Batters faced: M Bowie 4; J Smoltz
4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 0 0 3 0
ATLANTA 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCOEUR (.273, 8 HR, 46 RBI)
B MCCANN (.264, 6 HR, 39 RBI)
M DIAZ (.333, 4 HR, 15 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Langerhans cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .177
F Lopez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
A Kearns rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
R Belliard 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
B Schneider c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250
M Bowie p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .091

Totals 9 0 3 0 0 2 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Bowie 1, D Young 1. Team
LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Lopez-R Belliard-D Young).


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .197
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - Y Escobar (5, M Bowie). RBI - C Jones (29). GIDP - A Jones. Team
LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 00 -- 0
ATLANTA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Bowie 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.74

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 3.07

WP - J Smoltz. Pitches-strikes: M Bowie 12-8; J Smoltz 37-25. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Bowie 3-0; J Smoltz 1-3. Batters faced: M Bowie 4; J Smoltz
9.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 0 0 3 0
ATLANTA 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R LANGERHANS (.177, 0-FOR-1)
F LOPEZ (.239, 1-FOR-1)
R ZIMMERMAN (.246, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Langerhans cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .177
F Lopez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .246
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
A Kearns rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
R Belliard 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
B Schneider c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250
M Bowie p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .091

Totals 9 0 3 0 0 2 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Bowie 1, D Young 1. Team
LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Lopez-R Belliard-D Young).


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .197
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263
M Diaz lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325
J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .083

Totals 8 1 3 1 1 1 5

BATTING: 2B - Y Escobar (5, M Bowie). RBI - C Jones (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Smoltz 1. GIDP - A Jones. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 00 -- 0
ATLANTA - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Bowie 2 3 1 1 1 1 0 3.67

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 3.07

WP - J Smoltz. Pitches-strikes: M Bowie 39-21; J Smoltz 37-25. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Bowie 3-2; J Smoltz 1-3. Batters faced: M Bowie 9; J Smoltz
9.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 3 0
ATLANTA 1 0 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.282, 1-FOR-1)
E RENTERIA (.321, 0-FOR-1)
C JONES (.322, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Langerhans cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .176
F Lopez ss 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .239
R Zimmerman 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
A Kearns rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
R Belliard 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
B Schneider c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250
M Bowie p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .091

Totals 12 0 3 0 0 4 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Bowie 1, D Young 1. Team
LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Lopez-R Belliard-D Young).


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
C Jones 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .197
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263
M Diaz lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325
J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .083

Totals 8 1 3 1 1 1 5

BATTING: 2B - Y Escobar (5, M Bowie). RBI - C Jones (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Smoltz 1. GIDP - A Jones. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 000 -- 0
ATLANTA - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Bowie 2 3 1 1 1 1 0 3.67

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 3 3 0 0 0 4 0 3.04

WP - J Smoltz. Pitches-strikes: M Bowie 39-21; J Smoltz 51-34. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Bowie 3-2; J Smoltz 1-4. Batters faced: M Bowie 9; J Smoltz
12.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHIPPER JONES SCORED YUNEL ESCOBAR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C JONES ON FIRST, E RENTERIA ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0
ATLANTA 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.197, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JEFF FRANCOEUR SCORED EDGAR RENTERIA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C JONES ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0
ATLANTA 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 3 0
ATLANTA 1 0 2 3 7 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - MICAH BOWIE
ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: D YOUNG (.340, 0-FOR-1)
A KEARNS (.257, 1-FOR-1)
R CHURCH (.259, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (0) VS ATLANTA (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Langerhans cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .176
F Lopez ss 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .239
R Zimmerman 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
A Kearns rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
R Belliard 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .299
B Schneider c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250
M Bowie p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .091

Totals 12 0 3 0 0 4 7

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Bowie 1, D Young 1. Team
LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (F Lopez-R Belliard-D Young).


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .291
E Renteria ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .323
C Jones 3b 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 .325
A Jones cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .196
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 .273
B McCann c 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .266
M Diaz lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .335
J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325
J Smoltz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .083

Totals 14 3 7 3 1 2 10

BATTING: 2B - Y Escobar 2 (6, M Bowie 2). SF - J Francoeur. RBI - C Jones 2
(30), J Francoeur (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Smoltz 1, M
Diaz 1. GIDP - A Jones. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - E Renteria (6, 3rd base off M Bowie/B Schneider).


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 000 -- 0
ATLANTA - 102 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Bowie 3 7 3 3 1 2 0 3.93

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 3 3 0 0 0 4 0 3.04

WP - J Smoltz. Pitches-strikes: M Bowie 66-38; J Smoltz 51-34. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Bowie 3-4; J Smoltz 1-4. Batters faced: M Bowie 16; J Smoltz
12.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 89 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>