Sports

NL: Nationals keep Braves' offense stifled

Associated Press
Published April 21, 2005

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WASHINGTON - Zach Day, who had a 9.00 ERA in his first two starts, allowed just three singles over seven innings to lead the Nationals past the struggling Braves 2-0 on Wednesday.

Washington, 5-0 in one- and two-run games, ended a two-game losing streak and improved to 3-1 against Atlanta this season. The Braves have lost six of eight and scored a combined six runs in their past five games.

Andruw Jones went 0-for-4 for Atlanta, stretching his career-worst hitless slide to 27 at-bats.

Day let only three runners reach second, and the Braves went 0-for-3 with men in scoring position.

Washington scored its runs in the third. Brad Wilkerson led off with a single and Jose Vidro hit his fourth homer of the season and second in three nights.

DIAMONDBACKS 2, GIANTS 1: Javier Vazquez pitched seven scoreless innings and visiting Arizona handed Noah Lowry the first loss of his major-league career. Vazquez allowed eight hits, struck out two and walked two to win for the first time since returning to the National League in the trade that sent Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees. The Diamondbacks, hitting only .204 through the first six games of a seven-game road trip, won for just the second time in six games. They also beat the Giants in San Francisco for only the second time in 12 games.

DODGERS 3, PADRES 1 (10): Jose Valentin hit a two-run triple with two outs in the 10th inning for visiting Los Angeles, which won its eighth straight win. The Dodgers, who have the best record in the majors at 12-2, matched the best start in franchise history. The 1940 and '55 Dodgers, then based in Brooklyn, also opened 12-2.

CUBS 3, CARDINALS 1: Carlos Zambrano went 82/3 innings and drove in a run in the second with his first triple for visiting Chicago, which ended St. Louis' five-game win streak.

St. Louis had one hit through five and threatened only in the sixth with three hits. But David Eckstein was easily thrown out trying to steal second after his leadoff single.

After Scott Rolen doubled with two outs in the ninth, Zambrano left with a blister on his index finger. LaTroy Hawkins then retired John Mabry on a drive to the centerfield wall.

ROCKIES 7, PHILLIES 4: Rookie Clint Barmes had four hits and made a diving catch to preserve a lead for Colorado, which ended a 10-game road losing streak dating to last season.

Barmes, who drove in three runs, is 15-for-23 (.652) with eight RBIs in his past six games. With the Rockies ahead 2-1 in the sixth and two on, the shortstop lunged to make a backhand catch of David Bell's liner then doubled up Jim Thome at second for an inning-ending double play.

Colorado then broke open the game with a four-run seventh. Aaron Miles' leadoff triple and Barmes' run-scoring single chased Cory Lidle. Matt Holliday hit a run-scoring single off Ryan Madson, and Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer for a 6-1 lead.

MARLINS 9, METS 2: Juan Encarnacion homered and drove in four runs for host Florida. Aaron Heilman, who threw a one-hit shutout against Florida on Friday, gave up 11 hits and left after four innings trailing 7-0. Encarnacion, who has two grand slams this season, came up with the bases loaded for the third time this year in the sixth and singled home a run.

REDS 6, PIRATES 4: Wily Mo Pena hit two homers, including a tiebreaking two-run shot in the seventh, for host Cincinnati. Pittsburgh lost its fifth in a row, falling to 4-11 for its worst start since 1995.

ASTROS 6, BREWERS 1: Adam Everett and Craig Biggio led off the first with homers for host Houston. Roy Oswalt pitched a complete game, allowing one run on four hits for his third consecutive win. Battling the flu, Ben Sheets gave up homers to Everett and Biggio on his third and fourth pitches.

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:38:02]

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