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Zimmerman, Milledge help Nats top Braves for fourth straight win

Fri 29th, August 2008

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ryan Zimmerman and Lastings Milledge each drove in two runs, as the Washington Nationals topped the Atlanta Braves, 7-3, in the opener of a three-game series.

Emilio Bonifacio went 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored for the Nationals, who have won four straight, matching their longest winning streak of the season.

"It's only four games. We know these guys are better than that," said Nats manager Manny Acta. "What I can say is some guys are getting healthy (and) we're getting some guys back. Obviously we're not going to be scoring seven runs every single day, but it does help. These guys are better than they have shown."

Odalis Perez (6-10) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits to get the win.

Greg Norton belted a two-run homer for the Braves, who have dropped 14 of their last 18 games.

Jorge Campillo (7-7) was saddled with the loss after he allowed five runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The Nationals struck first with a run in the opening frame. Cristian Guzman, who on Thursday posted the eighth cycle in franchise history and second since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, had a one-out double and Zimmerman followed with an RBI single. Washington added two more runs in the second when Elijah Dukes doubled, Bonifacio tripled and Guzman singled.

A two-out, two-run single by Milledge gave the Nationals a 5-0 lead in the fourth.

Atlanta responded quickly with three runs in the fifth. Omar Infante doubled to begin the inning and later scored on pinch-hitter Norton's two-out blast to center. Josh Anderson followed with a single, advanced to second on Bonifacio's throwing error and crossed the plate on a double by Martin Prado.

The Nationals expanded their lead further in the sixth on Zimmerman's sacrifice fly and Ronnie Belliard's RBI single.

Joel Hanrahan came on in the ninth with one out and two runners on and got the final two outs to notch his seventh save of the season.

"They're a good club," said Braves catcher Brian McCann. "They beat us. Numbers can speak for themselves."

Game Notes

The Braves optioned pitcher Charlie Morton to Triple-A Richmond and activated pitcher Elmer Dessens on Friday. Dessens was tagged for two runs in 1 2/3 innings...The Nationals are a solid 8-4 versus the Braves this year, but are a combined 10-26 against the rest of the NL East...Atlanta's Jo-Jo Reyes (3-10) and Washington's Jason Bergmann (2-10) are scheduled to start on Saturday...Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill will undergo surgery on his ailing right elbow after visiting Dr. James Andrews Friday in Pensacola, Florida.

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