NewsBraves walk past Nats in pitchers' duel
Johnson draws free pass with bases loaded in ninth inning
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By Jeff Seidel / Special to MLB.com
04/22/09 11:15 PM ET
WASHINGTON -- The Braves haven't been able to get clutch hits throughout this road trip and in the past several games. Once again, they couldn't get a key hit at the right time on Wednesday night.But they did get a walk at the right time.
Kelly Johnson drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to give the Braves a 1-0 victory over the Nationals in the finale of their three-game series at Nationals Park, ending a two-game losing streak.
Both teams finished with six hits, and each went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Braves (7-8) left 10 runners on base and had runners in scoring position in five of the nine innings. But it was the ninth inning where they drew the three consecutive walks that pushed them to victory.
"We finally got a break," said Braves manager Bobby Cox. "We've had some really good pitched games that we haven't won, and that would have been typical if we had gotten beat tonight. There's a lot of different ways to win ballgames, I guess."
Matt Diaz started the winning rally with a one-out single and made a crucial play when Casey Kotchman grounded back to pitcher Garrett Mock (0-1).
Mock tried to start a double play, but Diaz broke it up by sliding into Alex Cintron -- who claimed later he was spiked -- and forcing the shortstop to pull first baseman Nick Johnson off the bag with his throw.
"I probably should have made a jump and try to make a throw," Cintron said. "When I caught the ball, he was right on me. I tried to hold my ground. The guy is running. The pitcher catches the ball, and I want to make sure he made the throw. He made a great play."
That kept the inning alive, and Jordan Schafer battled through a seven-pitch at-bat to walk. Pinch-runner Omar Infante then came in for Kotchman at second, and moved to third when Mike Hinckley took over for the Nationals (3-11) and walked pinch-hitter Martin Prado.
Prado drew the walk after falling behind in the count, 1-2. Johnson had an easier time as Hinckley started him with three straight balls. Johnson took a strike before walking and forcing in Infante for the winning run.
"I had a feeling that ... one of the first two pitches is going to be a breaking ball," Johnson said. "He threw the first one in the dirt. It kind of helped me, because I knew he can be kind of wild sometimes."
The Braves were able to be there in the ninth thanks to an outstanding effort from starter Jair Jurrjens. He gave up no runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. He threw 96 pitches, 65 of which were strikes.
Jurrjens worked out of trouble in the fourth and sixth innings. In each inning, the Nationals put runners on third with one out, but the right-hander then got the next two hitters out. On offense, the Braves also got two good two-out scoring threats, but Jurrjens came up each time and made the third out.
But it was Jurrjens' pitching that saved the day.
"I'm just trying to stay out there as long as I can," Jurrjens said. "I'm really happy that we finally got a win."
Washington starter John Lannan nearly matched him, allowing no runs on five hits in seven innings. He also struck out four and walked two. Lannan threw 60 strikes out of 95 pitches.
Cox liked how Lannan threw, but was more impressed with Jurrjens, his 23-year-old right-hander.
"You can't pitch any better than that," Cox said. "He was just dominating the strike zone all night long."
Mike Gonzalez (1-0) relieved Jurrjens in the eighth and struck out Adam Dunn to end the inning. Rafael Soriano closed it with a scoreless ninth, striking out two batters for his second save.
The Braves' bullpen has been a weak point so far this season. Coming into this game, it had an ERA of 6.48, 23rd in the Major Leagues. But it was close to perfect in this three-game series.
Atlanta's relievers combined to allow no runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings against the Nationals. They also struck out 12 and walked only four to back up strong efforts from starters Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami and Jurrjens.
Jeff Seidel is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
