Braves vs. Nationals

The Braves beat Washington 5-0 Saturday, giving Bobby Cox his 2,500th win and putting Atlanta in a tie for the Wild Card. A throwing error by Washington’s third baseman Alberto Gonzalez in the 3rd inning allowed Brian McCann to reach base and Derrek Lee to score, giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead. It remained 1-0 until the 6th inning when the Braves tagged on four more runs. Derrek Lee got things started with a double to score Martin Prado. Alex Gonzalez capped off the inning with three-run home run to make it 5-0. Nationals hitters couldn’t do much against Atlanta starter Derek Lowe.  Washington left 12 men on base and were 0-10 with runners in scoring position.

Lowe got the win for Atlanta, going 5 innings and allowing just five hits while striking out four. Yunesky Maya took the loss for Washington, going 5.1 innings and giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out one.

Mets vs. Phillies

The Mets snapped the Phillies 11-game win streak, beating Philadelphia 5-2. Philadelphia struck first with two runs in the 1st inning thanks to a two-run shot off the bat of Ryan Howard. The score stayed 2-0 until the 7th when the Mets broke through to score five runs in the inning. Josh Thole drove in the first run for the Mets with a single, but the inning’s biggest hit belonged to Lucas Duda. Pinch hitting with the bases loaded, Duda hit a bases clearing double to make it 4-2 Mets. A few batters later, Jose Reyes hit an RBI double to center.

Dillon Gee got the win, going 7 innings and giving up two runs on five hits while striking out five. Kyle Kendrick took the loss, going 6.1 innings and allowing four runs on six hits while striking out four. Hisanori Takahashi recorded his 8th save for the Mets.

Marlins vs. Brewers

The Marlins shut out the Brewers 4-0 to win the third game of the four game set in Milwaukee. Logan Morrison singled home the first run of the game for Florida to make it 1-0 Marlins. It stayed that way until the 7th when Mike Stanton hit a solo shot to left field. In the 8th, Gaby Sanchez hit an RBI single to score Osvaldo Martinez. The Marlins tagged on their final run in the 9th with an RBI double by Martinez.

Chris Volstad went 6.2 innings to get the win. He gave up six hits while striking out two. Chris Narveson took the loss for Milwaukee, going 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five.

Saturday’s games:

Braves vs. Nationals

The Braves and Nationals continue their series his afternoon  in Washington. Derek Lowe (14-12, 4.18 ERA) takes the hill for Atlanta. Yunesky Maya (0-2, 6.32 ERA) starts for Washington. First pitch is 1:05 p.m.

Mets vs. Phillies

The mets and Phillies play game two tonight in Philadelphia. Dillon Gee (1-1, 1.80 ERA) gets the start for New York. Kyle Kendrick (10-9, 4.78 ERA) starts for the Phillies. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Marlins vs. Brewers

The Marlins send Chris Volstad (10-9, 4.82 ERA) to the mound as they play game two against the Brewers. Chris Narveson (11-8, 5.25 ERA) starts for the Brewers. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. in Milwaukee.

Braves vs. Mets

If the Mets are trying to be spoilers, they aren’t doing a very good job of it, as Atlanta beat New York for the second straight game 4-2. With the loss, the Mets have been eliminated from contention in the NL East. Nate McLouth got things started for Atlanta in the 2nd inning with a double to score Derrek Lee. The Mets tied it up in the bottom of the 3rd, however, on a solo shot off the bat of Jose Reyes. Atlanta struck again in the top of the 4th, scoring two more runs on an Alex Gonzalez double to center field. The second run for the Mets came in the 5th. After fouling a ball off his right foot, Luis Hernandez drove the next pitch into the right field seats, hitting his second home run as a Met, and cutting the Atlanta lead to 3-2. Hernandez would come out of the game with a broken bone in his foot.  It remained 3-2 until the top of the 9th when Atlanta tagged on an insurance run with a solo shot to right field by McLouth.

Tim Hudson got the win, going 7 innings and giving up two runs on six hits while striking out seven. Dillon Gee took the loss, going 7 innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three. Billy Wagner recorded his 35th save for Atlanta.

Nationals vs. Phillies

The Phillies beat the Nationals 5-2, keeping their three-game lead in the NL East. Washington got on the board with a run in 1st inning when Ian Desmond tripled to score Danny Espinosa. Philadelphia put up two runs in the 2nd on a homer run by Jayson Werth and an RBI double by Wilson Valdez. The Phillies followed with three more runs in the 3rd on a two-run homer by Ryan Howard and a solo shot off the bat of Raul Ibanez. The only other run for Washington came in the 6th when Michael Morse singled to score Ryan Zimmerman.

Kyle Kendrick got the win for the Phillies, going 6 innings and giving up two runs on six hits while striking out three. Jordan Zimmermann took the loss for Washington, going only 3 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out three. Brad Lidge recorded his 23rd save for Philadelphia.

Marlins vs. Cubs

The Marlins lost to the Cubs 5-3 and are now only one game from being mathematically eliminated from contention in the NL East, and four games away from being eliminated from postseason play altogether. Florida took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning with an RBI single by Mike Stanton.  It remained 1-0 until the 5th when Chicago put up four runs in the inning. Three of those runs scored as a result of walks. An RBI double by Brad Davis and an RBI single by Logan Morrison helped Florida cut the lead to 4-3. Chicago added on another run though in the 8th on a double by Blake DeWitt, making it 5-3.

Anibal Sanchez took the loss for Florida, going 5 innings and giving up four runs on five hits while striking out six. Casey Coleman got the win for Chicago, going 6 innings and allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five. Carlos Marmol recorded his 33rd save for Chicago.

Saturday’s games:

Braves vs. Mets

The Braves and Mets continue their series this afternoon in New York. Tim Hudson (15-8, 2.62 ERA) takes the hills for Atlanta. Dillon Gee (1-0, 0.69 ERA) gets the start for the Mets. Game time is 4:10 p.m.

Nationals vs. Philllies

The Nationals send Jordan Zimmermann (0-1, 5.29 ERA) to the mound as they look to bounce back from yesterday’s loss. Kyle Kendrick  (9-9, 4.85 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. in Philadelphia.

Marlins vs. Cubs

The Marlins look to take game two from the Cubs tonight in Florida. Anibal Sanchez (12-9, 3.35 ERA) starts for Florida. Casey Coleman (1-2, 5.11 ERA) starts for Chicago. Game time is 7:10 p.m.

Monday’s games:

Braves vs. Nationals

The Braves and Nationals begin a three-game series tonight in Atlanta. Derek Lowe (12-12, 4.42 ERA) starts for the Braves. Yunesky Maya (0-1, 7.20 ERA) gets the start for Washington. Game time is 7:10 p.m.

Marlins vs. Phillies

The Marlins and Phillies go head-to-head tonight in their series opener in Florida. Andrew Miller (1-1, 6.16 ERA) gets the start for Florida. Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.15 ERA) starts for Philadelphia. First pitch is 7:10 p.m.

Mets vs. Pirates

The Mets send Dillon Gee (1-0, 1.29 ERA) out for a second start as they begin their series with Pittsburgh. James McDonald (3-4, 4.17 ERA) starts for the Pirates. Game time is 7:10 p.m. in New York.

Tuesday’s games:

Braves vs. Pirates

The Braves look to take game two from the Pirates tonight in Pittsburgh. Tim Hudson (15-6, 2.30 ERA) gets the start for Atlanta. James McDonald (2-4, 5.03 ERA) starts for Pittsburgh. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Marlins vs. Phillies

These two teams continue their series tonight in Florida. Chris Volstad (9-9, 4.82 ERA) starts for Florida. Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.25 ERA) starts for Philadelphia. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Mets vs. Nationals

The starting pitchers for tonight’s game between the Mets and Nationals will both be making their major league debuts. Dillon Gee starts for the Mets. Yunesky Maya starts for Washington. Game time is 7:05 p.m.