Braves 9, Nationals 8

FIVE straight. This is a game the Braves would have lost earlier in the season. They aren't giving up right now and they're winning because of it.

Picking up in the fourth with the score tied at four, Yunel Escobar doubled in a run to take a one-run lead. The Nationals answered in the home half on an RBI groundout by Josh Bard to tie it at five. The big blow came in the seventh on a three-run home run by Brooks Conrad, who was just called up today to take Kelly Johnson's spot.

Cristian Guzman sac flied a run in in the home half of the seventh to cut the lead to two. The Braves made it a three run lead in the eighth when Matt Diaz walked to bring in a run. Guzman doubled in two in the ninth to cut the lead to one, but Rafael Soriano was able to hold off for the save.

Kenshin Kawakami: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Boone Logan: W (1-0), 1.2 IP
Peter Moylan: 1 IP, H, ER, BB
Mike Gonzalez: 1 IP, 3 K
Rafael Soriano: S (8), 1 IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K

Kawakami struggled with hits and walks, recording his worst start in a long time. A dumb error on his part knocked him out after 4.1 innings and led to an unearned run. Gonzalez and Soriano did a flip flop with the performances, with Gonzalez striking out the side in the eighth and Soriano allowing two runs before getting the save.

Chipper Jones: 2-4, 2 RBI
Yunel Escobar: 2-2, 2 RBI
Matt Diaz: 2-3, 2 RBI
Brooks Conrad: PH HR, 3 RBI

Every starter but Jeff Francoeur had a hit. All but Francoeur, Nate McLouth, and Casey Kotchman had more than one hit. Martin Prado picked up three hits and scored three times as well. Conrad hit a three-run homer as a pinch hitter in the seventh.

Notable Nationals:
Cristian Guzman: 2-4, 3 RBI

Notable Stat:
Braves as a team: 8 walks

Why Jeff Francoeur Sucks:
Everybody improves their hitting but he manages to get worse. 0-4, K

Next Game:
7/4: @ Nationals, 1:05 (Tommy Hanson vs. John Lannan)