GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (74-72) at WASHINGTON (65-81)

NL: ATLANTA (74-72) at WASHINGTON (65-81)

<h3>Braves visit Nationals, try to keep playoff hopes alive</h3>



Atlanta (74-72) at Washington (65-81), 7:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- After being a playoff fixture in theNational League from 1991-2005, the Atlanta Braves aredangerously close to missing the the postseason for the secondconsecutive season.


The Braves look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when theyopen a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at RFKStadium.


Trailing the the NL East-leading New York Mets (83-62) by 9 1/2games with only 16 to play, Atlanta has turned its attention tothe wild card race. However, closing the 4 1/2-game gap on thefront-leading San Diego Padres (78-67) and leap-frogging thefour teams ahead of them in that race may be too much to ask atthis point.


Chuck James (10-10, 4.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Braves,who have won nine of their first 15 games with Washington thisyear. The lefthander allowed two runs in 6 1/3 in a 9-2 winagainst the Nationals on Saturday. Jones can match hiscareer-high for wins (2006) with a victory.


Jones' counterpart will be Matt Chico (5-8, 4.61), the sameplayer who opposed him Saturday. Also a lefthander, Chicodidn't get much defensive support in his last start as all sixof the Braves runs off him were unearned.

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

ATLANTA WASHINGTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Yunel Escobar 2B .318 5 27 Felipe Lopez SS .243 9 48
Edgar Renteria SS .330 11 53 Ronnie Belliard 2B .282 9 45
Chipper Jones 3B .330 25 87 Ryan Zimmerman 3B .267 23 84
Mark Teixeira 1B .327 12 39 Dmitri Young 1B .326 13 73
Jeff Francoeur RF .298 17 95 Austin Kearns RF .268 13 59
Andruw Jones CF .220 24 86 Wily Mo Pena LF .277 8 16
Brian Mccann C .276 18 88 Jesus Flores C .255 4 23
Matt Diaz LF .338 12 42 Justin Maxwell CF .333 1 4
Chuck James LHP .128 0 2 Matt Chico LHP .150 0 1
(10-10, 4.21) (5-8, 4.61)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON
WARMUPS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES (10-10, 4.21)
WAS - MATT CHICO (5-8, 4.61)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM WOLF
1B - TIM TSCHIDA
2B - JIM JOYCE
3B - JEFF NELSON

WEATHER: 77 Degrees, rain
WIND: 10 mph, right to left</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON
NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES (10-10, 4.21)
WAS - MATT CHICO (5-8, 4.61)

UMPIRES: HP - JIM WOLF
1B - TIM TSCHIDA
2B - JIM JOYCE
3B - JEFF NELSON

WEATHER: 74 Degrees, rain
WIND: 5 mph, out to left</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON
NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 16 MINUTE DELAY.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON
STARTING BATS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES AND BRIAN MCCANN
WAS - MATT CHICO AND JESUS FLORES

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.318, 5 HR, 27 RBI)
E RENTERIA (.330, 11 HR, 53 RBI)
C JONES (.330, 25 HR, 87 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK TEIXEIRA SCORED YUNEL ESCOBAR AND EDGAR
RENTERIA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M TEIXEIRA ON SECOND, C JONES ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2
WASHINGTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: J FRANCOEUR (.298, 17 HR, 95 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY ANDRUW JONES SCORED CHIPPER JONES.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M TEIXEIRA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3
WASHINGTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.276, 18 HR, 88 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
WAS - MATT CHICO

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: F LOPEZ (.243, 9 HR, 48 RBI)
R BELLIARD (.282, 9 HR, 45 RBI)
R ZIMMERMAN (.267, 23 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .320
E Renteria ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .332
C Jones 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
M Teixeira 1b 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .297
A Jones cf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .220
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .128

Totals 6 3 4 3 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - M Teixeira (6, M Chico). SF - A Jones. RBI - M Teixeira 2 (41), A
Jones (87). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B McCann 1. Team LOB - 1.



WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
R Belliard 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Zimmerman 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
D Young 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Flores c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Maxwell cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
M Chico p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 3 -- 3
WASHINGTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.21

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Chico 1 4 3 3 0 1 0 4.77

Pitches-strikes: M Chico 31-22. Ground balls-fly balls: M Chico 1-1. Batters
faced: M Chico 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson.

(Plus rain delay totaling 16 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 74 degrees, rain.
Wind: 5 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
WAS - MATT CHICO</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NL AT WASHINGTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY RONNIE BELLIARD (10) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 1ST OFF CHUCK JAMES.
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3, WASHINGTON 1

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R ZIMMERMAN (.267, 23 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
WAS - MATT CHICO

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M DIAZ (.338, 12 HR, 42 RBI)
C JAMES (.128, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
Y ESCOBAR (.320, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (3) VS WASHINGTON (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .320
E Renteria ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .332
C Jones 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
M Teixeira 1b 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .297
A Jones cf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .220
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .128

Totals 6 3 4 3 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - M Teixeira (6, M Chico). SF - A Jones. RBI - M Teixeira 2 (41), A
Jones (87). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B McCann 1. Team LOB - 1.



WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .283
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .325
A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Flores c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Maxwell cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
M Chico p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - R Belliard (10, 1st inning off C James 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - R
Belliard (46). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 3 -- 3
WASHINGTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.24

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Chico 1 4 3 3 0 1 0 4.77

Pitches-strikes: C James 19-15; M Chico 31-22. Ground balls-fly balls: C
James 1-1; M Chico 1-1. Batters faced: C James 4; M Chico 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson.

(Plus rain delay totaling 16 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 74 degrees, rain.
Wind: 5 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
WAS - MATT CHICO

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: A KEARNS (.268, 13 HR, 59 RBI)
W PENA (.277, 8 HR, 16 RBI)
J FLORES (.255, 4 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (3) VS WASHINGTON (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .319
E Renteria ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .331
C Jones 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
M Teixeira 1b 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .297
A Jones cf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .220
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
M Diaz lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .340
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .128

Totals 9 3 5 3 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - M Teixeira (6, M Chico). S - C James. SF - A Jones. RBI - M
Teixeira 2 (41), A Jones (87). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E
Renteria 1, B McCann 1. Team LOB - 2.


WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .283
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .325
A Kearns rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
W Pena lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Flores c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Maxwell cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
M Chico p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - R Belliard (10, 1st inning off C James 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - R
Belliard (46). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 30 -- 3
WASHINGTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.24

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Chico 2 5 3 3 0 1 0 4.74

Pitches-strikes: C James 19-15; M Chico 37-28. Ground balls-fly balls: C
James 1-1; M Chico 2-3. Batters faced: C James 4; M Chico 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson.

(Plus rain delay totaling 16 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 74 degrees, rain.
Wind: 5 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
WAS - MATT CHICO

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: C JONES (.331, 1-FOR-1)
M TEIXEIRA (.331, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)
J FRANCOEUR (.297, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (3) VS WASHINGTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Y Escobar 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .319
E Renteria ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .331
C Jones 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
M Teixeira 1b 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .297
A Jones cf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .220
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
M Diaz lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .340
C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .128

Totals 9 3 5 3 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - M Teixeira (6, M Chico). S - C James. SF - A Jones. RBI - M
Teixeira 2 (41), A Jones (87). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E
Renteria 1, B McCann 1. Team LOB - 2.


WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .283
R Zimmerman 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
D Young 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .325
A Kearns rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
W Pena lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Flores c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
J Maxwell cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250
M Chico p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .146

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 1 4

BATTING: HR - R Belliard (10, 1st inning off C James 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - R
Belliard (46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Chico 1. Team LOB -
2.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 30 -- 3
WASHINGTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C James 2 3 1 1 0 1 1 4.21

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Chico 2 5 3 3 0 1 0 4.74

Pitches-strikes: C James 45-33; M Chico 37-28. Ground balls-fly balls: C
James 1-4; M Chico 2-3. Batters faced: C James 9; M Chico 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Wolf. 1B--Tim Tschida. 2B--Jim Joyce. 3B--Jeff Nelson.

(Plus rain delay totaling 16 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 74 degrees, rain.
Wind: 5 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - CHUCK JAMES
WAS - MATT CHICO

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: F LOPEZ (.243, 0-FOR-1)
R BELLIARD (.283, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
R ZIMMERMAN (.267, 0-FOR-1)</div>