NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Soriano relieved P Moylan. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1 ATLANTA 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R Zimmerman (.268, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: M Prado at second base. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1 ATLANTA 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R Zimmerman (.268, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 5 ATLANTA 0 0 3 2 1 0 1 0 x 7 7 1 (FINAL) BATTERIES: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN, MICAH BOWIE (4TH), MIKE BACSIK (6TH), ROSS DETWILER (8TH) AND BRIAN SCHNEIDER, JESUS FLORES (7TH) ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, PETER MOYLAN (8TH), RAFAEL SORIANO (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN HOME RUNS: WAS - NONE ATL - CHIPPER JONES (24) OFF JOEL HANRAHAN IN THE 3RD, 2 ON</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 5 ATLANTA 0 0 3 2 1 0 1 0 x 7 7 1 (FINAL) BATTERIES: WAS - JOEL HANRAHAN, MICAH BOWIE (4TH), MIKE BACSIK (6TH), ROSS DETWILER (8TH) AND BRIAN SCHNEIDER, JESUS FLORES (7TH) ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ, PETER MOYLAN (8TH), RAFAEL SORIANO (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN WP - JOHN SMOLTZ (13-7) LP - JOEL HANRAHAN (4-3) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: WAS - NONE ATL - CHIPPER JONES (24) OFF JOEL HANRAHAN IN THE 3RD, 2 ON TIME: 2:49 ATT: 31,116 PROBABLES: WAS - MATT CHICO (5-7, 4.78) ATL - CHUCK JAMES (9-10, 4.27)</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">WASHINGTON (1) VS ATLANTA (7) - FINAL WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg N Logan cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .267 F Lopez ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .244 R Zimmerman 3b 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 .268 D Young 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328 A Kearns rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .267 W Pena lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .237 R Belliard 2b 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 .278 B Schneider c 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .230 J Flores c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 M Bowie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091 a-D Jimenez ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .152 M Bacsik p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 b-R Church ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .266 R Detwiler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 29 1 2 1 2 13 8 a-struck out swinging for M Bowie in the 6th; b-doubled to left for M Bacsik in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - R Church (38, P Moylan). S - J Hanrahan. RBI - R Church (56). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Lopez 2. Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: E - R Zimmerman 3 (22, throw 3); B Schneider (6, throw); F Lopez (17, throw). DP: 2 (R Belliard-F Lopez-D Young, F Lopez-R Belliard-D Young). ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 4 1 1 0 1 1 1 .288 K Johnson 2b 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 .288 M Prado 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311 C Jones 3b 4 3 3 3 0 0 0 .333 M Teixeira 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .303 B McCann c 3 0 0 1 0 0 3 .275 J Francoeur rf 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .294 A Jones cf 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .224 Y Escobar ss 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .322 J Smoltz p 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 .083 P Moylan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-M Diaz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .349 R Soriano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 31 7 7 5 5 4 12 a-flied out to right for P Moylan in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - C Jones (39, J Hanrahan). HR - C Jones (24, 3rd inning off J Hanrahan 2 on, 0 Out). SF - B McCann. RBI - C Jones 3 (85), J Francoeur (87), B McCann (85). 2-out RBI - J Francoeur. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 1, J Smoltz 1, B McCann 1, Y Escobar 1. GIDP - K Johnson, B McCann. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: E - Y Escobar (10, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON - 000 000 010 -- 1 ATLANTA - 003 210 10x -- 7 ---------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Hanrahan (L, 4-3) 3 1/3 4 5 4 4 3 1 5.63 M Bowie 1 2/3 3 1 1 1 0 0 4.42 M Bacsik 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 4.65 R Detwiler 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz (W, 13-7) 7 1 1 1 2 10 0 3.02 P Moylan 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.85 R Soriano 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.34 J Smoltz pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. WP - J Hanrahan. Pitches-strikes: J Hanrahan 84-48; M Bowie 20-12; M Bacsik 18-13; R Detwiler 19-12; J Smoltz 109-70; P Moylan 19-13; R Soriano 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hanrahan 2-5; M Bowie 4-1; M Bacsik 3-3; R Detwiler 1-1; J Smoltz 9-2; P Moylan 1-1; R Soriano 0-1. Batters faced: J Hanrahan 19; M Bowie 7; M Bacsik 7; R Detwiler 4; J Smoltz 25; P Moylan 4; R Soriano 3. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. T--2:49. Att--31,116. Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
Smoltz flirts with no-hitter as Braves blitz Nationals <h3>ATLANTA 7, WASHINGTON 1</h3>By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves might not make theplayoffs, but they sure are giving their fans something to talkabout down the stretch. John Smoltz took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and ChipperJones smashed a three-run homer to power the Braves to a 7-1 winover the Washington Nationals on Friday. The 40-year old Smoltz has accomplished many Hall of Fame-worthymilestones in his 20-year major league career, winning 205games, recording 154 saves and striking out 2,937 battersentering Friday's game against the Nationals. But the one thing the Atlanta ace had never done was hurl ano-hitter. Facing woeful Washington, Smoltz (13-7) almost got one. Therighthander allowed one run and one hit, walked two and struckout 10 in seven-plus frames and took a no-hitter into the eighthinning. With the no-hit bid lost, Braves manager Bobby Cox went to themound to replace his veteran righthander. Smoltz, who tossed 70of his 109 pitches for strikes, left to a standing ovation fromthe crowd, tipping his cap before he crossed into foulterritory. Ronnie Belliard, who ended Smoltz's dance with destiny, laced aclean single on Smoltz's 1-2 pitch to right field to lead offthe eighth. Smoltz dominated the Nationals through the first seven frames,hurling first-pitch strikes to 17 of the first 24 batters hefaced and notching his 43rd game with 10-plus strikeouts. The only ball hit hard was a ball by Belliard, which landedinches foul in the fifth. Smoltz's flirtation with a no-hitter came two days after theBraves mounted their most remarkable comeback of the season byrallying from six-run deficit to defeat the PhiladelphiaPhillies, 9-8, on Wednesday afternoon. But the rally and Smoltz's heroics are likely too little, toolate for the Braves, who trailed the New York Mets by 7 1/2games in the National League East Division and were 5 1/2 behindthe San Diego Padres for the wild card entering Friday. Long-time teammate Jones gave Smoltz all the offense he wouldneed in the third. The 35-year old slugger smashed the 2-1 offering from Nationalsstarter Joel Hanrahan (4-3) into the Atlanta bullpen inright-center field to give the Braves a 3-0 edge. Atlanta extended the advantage to 5-0 in the next frame, thanksto some shoddy Washington defense. Andruw Jones reached on Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error androokie Yunel Escobar followed with a walk, bringing up Smoltz. Smoltz made his only other mistake of the night with the bat -bunting into a fielder's choice, retiring Andruw Jones. Buteven that turned out well for the Braves. Zimmerman's throw to nab Smoltz at first sailed into the Bravesdugout, advancing Escobar and Smoltz to second and thirdrespectively. Hanrahan followed by uncorking a wild pitch,plating Escobar. The throw hit Escobar, and scooted to theBraves on-deck circle, allowing Smoltz to score and extend theedge to 5-0. Francoeur plated Chipper Jones with a single in the fifth andBrian McCann's sacrifice fly in the seventh plated Jones to capthe Braves' scoring. Hanrahan allowed five runs - four earned - and four hits, walkedfour and struck out three in 3 1/3 frames. Pinch hitter Ryan Church drove in the lone run in the eighth forthe Nationals, who committed five errors
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WASHINGTON (1) AT ATLANTA (7) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ATLANTA 3RD: W Harris walked. K Johnson walked, W Harris to second. C Jones homered to right, W Harris and K Johnson scored. M Teixeira flied out to center. B McCann popped out to shortstop. J Francoeur struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 3. ATLANTA 4TH: A Jones safe at second on throwing error by third baseman R Zimmerman. Y Escobar walked. J Smoltz bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher, A Jones out at third, Y Escobar to second, Y Escobar to third, J Smoltz to second on throwing error by third baseman R Zimmerman. Y Escobar scored, J Smoltz to third on wild pitch by J Hanrahan, J Smoltz scored on throwing error by catcher B Schneider. W Harris singled to right. M Bowie relieved J Hanrahan. K Johnson grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, W Harris out at second.(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 3 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 5. ATLANTA 5TH: C Jones singled to right. M Teixeira singled to right, C Jones to second. B McCann grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Teixeira out at second, C Jones to third. J Francoeur singled to center, C Jones scored. A Jones walked, J Francoeur to second. Y Escobar flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 6. ATLANTA 7TH: J Flores catching. C Jones safe at second on throwing error by shortstop F Lopez. M Teixeira flied out to center, C Jones to third. B McCann hit sacrifice fly to center, C Jones scored. J Francoeur flied out to right. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 1 Error) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 7. WASHINGTON 8TH: R Belliard singled to right. P Moylan relieved J Smoltz. J Flores grounded out to third, R Belliard to second. R Church hit for M Bacsik. R Church doubled to left, R Belliard scored. N Logan struck out swinging. F Lopez flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 1, ATLANTA 7.</div>
NL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WASHINGTON (1) AT ATLANTA (7) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Washington Starting Lineups -- N Logan CF, F Lopez SS, R Zimmerman 3B, D Young 1B, A Kearns RF, W Pena LF, R Belliard 2B, B Schneider C, J Hanrahan RHP. Atlanta Starting Lineups -- W Harris LF, K Johnson 2B, C Jones 3B, M Teixeira 1B, B McCann C, J Francoeur RF, A Jones CF, Y Escobar SS, J Smoltz RHP. Umpires -- Lance Barksdale (HP), Tim Welke (1B), Jim Reynolds (2B), Gary Cederstrom (3B). Gametime Weather: 83 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 7 mph. WASHINGTON 1ST: N Logan grounded out to shortstop. F Lopez struck out swinging. R Zimmerman struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris flied out to right. K Johnson struck out looking. C Jones doubled to right. M Teixeira walked. B McCann flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 0. WASHINGTON 2ND: D Young walked. A Kearns struck out swinging. W Pena struck out swinging. R Belliard struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 2ND: J Francoeur singled to left. A Jones flied out to left. Y Escobar grounded out to shortstop, J Francoeur to second. J Smoltz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 0. WASHINGTON 3RD: B Schneider walked. J Hanrahan sacrificed to pitcher, B Schneider to second. N Logan grounded out to second. F Lopez grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 0. ATLANTA 3RD: W Harris walked. K Johnson walked, W Harris to second. C Jones homered to right, W Harris and K Johnson scored. M Teixeira flied out to center. B McCann popped out to shortstop. J Francoeur struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 3. WASHINGTON 4TH: R Zimmerman struck out swinging. D Young flied out to center. A Kearns struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 3. ATLANTA 4TH: A Jones safe at second on throwing error by third baseman R Zimmerman. Y Escobar walked. J Smoltz bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher, A Jones out at third, Y Escobar to second, Y Escobar to third, J Smoltz to second on throwing error by third baseman R Zimmerman. Y Escobar scored, J Smoltz to third on wild pitch by J Hanrahan, J Smoltz scored on throwing error by catcher B Schneider. W Harris singled to right. M Bowie relieved J Hanrahan. K Johnson grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, W Harris out at second.(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 3 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 5. WASHINGTON 5TH: W Pena grounded out to third. R Belliard flied out to center. B Schneider grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 5. ATLANTA 5TH: C Jones singled to right. M Teixeira singled to right, C Jones to second. B McCann grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Teixeira out at second, C Jones to third. J Francoeur singled to center, C Jones scored. A Jones walked, J Francoeur to second. Y Escobar flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 6. WASHINGTON 6TH: D Jimenez hit for M Bowie. D Jimenez struck out swinging. N Logan grounded out to pitcher. F Lopez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 6. ATLANTA 6TH: M Bacsik relieved M Bowie. J Smoltz grounded out to shortstop. W Harris grounded out to second. K Johnson grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 6. WASHINGTON 7TH: R Zimmerman struck out swinging. D Young grounded out to shortstop. A Kearns safe at first on error by shortstop Y Escobar. W Pena struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 6. ATLANTA 7TH: J Flores catching. C Jones safe at second on throwing error by shortstop F Lopez. M Teixeira flied out to center, C Jones to third. B McCann hit sacrifice fly to center, C Jones scored. J Francoeur flied out to right. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 1 Error) WASHINGTON 0, ATLANTA 7. WASHINGTON 8TH: R Belliard singled to right. P Moylan relieved J Smoltz. J Flores grounded out to third, R Belliard to second. R Church hit for M Bacsik. R Church doubled to left, R Belliard scored. N Logan struck out swinging. F Lopez flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 1, ATLANTA 7. ATLANTA 8TH: R Detwiler relieved M Bacsik. A Jones grounded out to second. Y Escobar safe at second on throwing error by third baseman R Zimmerman. M Diaz hit for P Moylan. M Diaz flied out to right. W Harris struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) WASHINGTON 1, ATLANTA 7. WASHINGTON 9TH: R Soriano relieved P Moylan. M Prado at second base. R Zimmerman struck out swinging. D Young lined out to first. A Kearns struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 1, ATLANTA 7.</div>
Smoltz flirts with no-hitter as Braves blitz Nationals <h3>ATLANTA 7, WASHINGTON 1</h3>By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves might not make theplayoffs, but they sure are giving their fans something to talkabout down the stretch. John Smoltz took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and ChipperJones smashed a three-run homer to power the Braves to a 7-1 winover the Washington Nationals on Friday. The 40-year old Smoltz has accomplished many Hall of Fame-worthymilestones in his 20-year major league career, winning 205games, recording 154 saves and striking out 2,937 battersentering Friday's game against the Nationals. But the one thing the Atlanta ace had never done was hurl ano-hitter. Facing woeful Washington, Smoltz (13-7) almost got one. Therighthander allowed one run and one hit, walked two and struckout 10 in seven-plus frames and took a no-hitter into the eighthinning. Needing 103 pitches to get through the first seven frames andfighting a head cold, a tiring Smoltz's dance with destiny endedwhen Ronnie Belliard laced a clean single on Smoltz's sixthpitch of the at-bat to right field to lead off the eighth. <div class="pre">"It was a hanging slider," Smoltz said. "The pitch he made</div>before, I don't know how he fouled it off. I kept telling myselfto throw it in the dirt." "He got me (1-2) and threw a hanging pitch," Belliard said."You don't expect that pitch in that situation." With the no-hit bid lost, Braves manager Bobby Cox went to themound to replace his veteran righthander. Smoltz, who tossed 70of his 109 pitches for strikes, left to a standing ovation fromthe crowd, tipping his cap before he crossed into foulterritory. "I expect John very time to go out there and pitch a low rungame and win," Cox said. "I always have." "At his age, what he can do is unbelievable," Braves rightfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "What he's doing is phenomenal." Smoltz dominated the Nationals through the first seven frames,hurling first-pitch strikes to 17 of the first 24 batters hefaced and notching his 43rd game with 10-plus strikeouts. The only ball hit hard was a ball by Belliard, which landedinches foul in the fifth. Smoltz also helped his own cause in the sixth, making a niftybarehanded grab to retire Nook Logan on a slow roller to thethird-base side of the pitcher's mound. The 40-year old Smoltz has been down the no-hit road before. Smoltz flirted with a no-no on April 14, 1996 at San Diego, butthat bid was spoiled in seventh when a hit by Hall of Famer TonyGwynn glanced off the glove of left fielder Ryan Klesko for adouble. Upset with the official scorer, Smoltz, who hurled eight inningsof one-hit ball in a 128-pitch performance, angrily threw a cupof water upon his return to the dugout. "I have a no-hitter, I don't care what the record books say,"Smoltz said. "Tony Gwynn hit a fly ball to left field, Ryan hadit in his glove and it was ruled a double." Smoltz also has a no-hit bid spoiled with one out in the ninthinning on May 27, 1990 against Philadelphia, when Lenny Dykstrasmashed a one-out double. The righthander recorded his only one-hitter on April 30, 1999at Cincinnati. "I'm surprised he doesn't have one to this point with how nastyhis stuff is," Chipper Jones said. "But Roger Clemens doesn'thave one. A lot of great pitchers don't have one." Smoltz's flirtation with a no-hitter came two days after theBraves mounted their most remarkable comeback of the season byrallying from six-run deficit to defeat the PhiladelphiaPhillies, 9-8, on Wednesday afternoon. But the rally and Smoltz's heroics are likely too little, toolate for the Braves, who trailed the New York Mets by 7 1/2games in the National League East Division and were 5 1/2 behindthe San Diego Padres for the wild card entering Friday. Long-time teammate Jones gave Smoltz all the offense he wouldneed in the third. The 35-year old slugger smashed the 2-1 offering from Nationalsstarter Joel Hanrahan (4-3) into the Atlanta bullpen inright-center field to give the Braves a 3-0 edge. Atlanta extended the advantage to 5-0 in the next frame, thanksto some shoddy Washington defense. Andruw Jones reached on Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error androokie Yunel Escobar followed with a walk, bringing up Smoltz. Smoltz made his only other mistake of the night with the bat -bunting into a fielder's choice, retiring Andruw Jones. Buteven that turned out well for the Braves. Zimmerman's throw to nab Smoltz at first sailed into the Bravesdugout, advancing Escobar and Smoltz to second and thirdrespectively. Hanrahan followed by uncorking a wild pitch,plating Escobar. The throw hit Escobar, and scooted to theBraves on-deck circle, allowing Smoltz to score and extend theedge to 5-0. Francoeur plated Chipper Jones with a single in the fifth andBrian McCann's sacrifice fly in the seventh plated Jones to capthe Braves' scoring. Hanrahan allowed five runs - four earned - and four hits, walkedfour and struck out three in 3 1/3 frames. Pinch hitter Ryan Church drove in the lone run in the eighth forthe Nationals, who committed five errors
