Francoeur's two-run single lifts Braves over Nats in 13th

Sep 15, 2007, 5:09 GMT

Washington, DC - Jeff Francoeur's two-run single in the 13th inning led Atlanta to an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Chipper Jones, who returned to the lineup after missing three starts due to a strained muscle on his right side, had three hits with an RBI and scored twice for the Braves, who won the rain-soaked contest and remained 4 1/2 games behind San Diego for the wild card lead. The Padres beat the Giants, 5-4, in 10 innings Friday night.

Colorado, Los Angeles and Philadelphia are also ahead of the Braves in the wild card chase.

Yunel Escobar and Edgar Renteria each had three hits and scored once for Atlanta, which has won two of its last three.

Jose Ascanio (1-1) threw two innings to get the victory, while Jesus Colome (4-1) suffered the loss in the opener of the three-game series that ended after 5 hours, 13 minutes, not including a 16-minute delay due to wet grounds.

Ronnie Belliard went 4-for-7 with a homer and scored three times, and Ryan Zimmerman also went deep, driving in three for Washington, losers of three straight. The Nationals' last two games have ended in extra innings, including a 5-4 loss in 12 at Florida on Wednesday.

Martin Prado and Jones singled with one out in the 13th, and Mark Teixeira walked. Francoeur lined a hit to right field, and Andruw Jones followed with a sacrifice fly to left.

Chuck James, going for his second straight win after a 9-2 Braves victory against the Nationals Saturday in Atlanta, allowed three runs on six hits with two strikeouts in only three-plus innings.

Washington lefty Matt Chico, who has not won since July 31, allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and a walk in six frames for Washington.

With the score deadlocked at three, the Nats got the go-ahead two runs in the seventh off reliever Tyler Yates, whose second and third pitches accounted for a Belliard single and Zimmerman's two-run shot to right field.

Atlanta started to rally in the eighth off reliever Jon Rauch, who surrendered a double to Andruw Jones and an RBI single to Matt Diaz with two outs. The potential go-ahead run, pinch-hitter Scott Thorman then struck out swinging.

The Braves tied the score with a run in the ninth off closer Chad Cordero, who surrendered a single to Renteria that deflected off the pitcher's foot before he could make a play. Pinch-runner Pete Orr then scored on a Chipper Jones double to right field. Teixeira and Andruw Jones walks loaded the bases, but Brian McCann grounded out to leave them stranded.

The Nats blew a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Belliard grounded a double down the left-field line. Pinch-hitter Ryan Church was walked intentionally and Austin Kearns drew a free pass to load the bases with one out for Tony Batista, who struck out swinging on three straight fastballs. Jesus Flores then lined out to send the game into extra innings.

Washington again failed to score in the 11th, as Flores flied out to end the frame, stranding runners at second and third.

Atlanta exploded out of the gate in the first when Escobar, Renteria and Chipper Jones hit consecutive singles to load the bases for Teixeira, whose double brought in two runs before Andruw Jones lifted a sacrifice fly.

Washington answered with a run in the home half on Belliard's solo shot to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch.

Zimmerman doubled in a run in the third and Wily Mo Pena came home on Chico's groundout in the fourth to tie the game.

Game Notes

Washington pitcher John Patterson underwent surgery Friday to decompress the radial nerve in his right arm. Also, the Nats acquired outfielder/first baseman Andrew Lefave from Milwaukee to complete the September 4 trade in which the Brewers acquired pitcher Ray King; and placed pitcher Micah Bowie on the 60-day disabled list.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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