Recap: Atlanta vs. Washington

Sports Network | October 1, 2009

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Pete Orr's RBI single in the ninth inning was the difference, as the Washington Nationals edged the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, in the opener of a four-game set.

"It was nice, there's some very good people over there. I have nothing but respect for everyone in the Braves organization," said Orr, who played for Atlanta from 2005-2007.

Prior to the game, the Colorado Rockies beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 9-2, to clinch the NL wild card and thwart any postseason hopes the Braves had.

Ryan Zimmerman added an RBI double for the Nats, who had dropped five straight to the Braves coming in but won their fourth straight overall.

Garrett Mock lasted six innings and gave up a run on five hits with four walks and two punchouts but got a no-decision.

Nate McLouth's solo homer accounted for all the offense for the Braves, who have lost three in a row on the heels of a seven-game winning streak. Garret Anderson went 2-for-4 and recorded the 2,501st hit of his career.

"I don't think any of them (milestones) are more special than the others, it's just an accomplishment you have a chance to reach when you play a lot of years," Anderson said of his mark.

Tommy Hanson also got a no-decision, as he went seven innings and yielded a run on five hits with nine strikeouts to two walks.

"I wanted to finish up my last game on a good note," said Hanson. "I'm glad with the way my last one went."

With the game tied at one, the Nats took the lead in the ninth. Zimmerman led off with a double off Rafael Soriano (1-6). Mike Morse followed with a strikeout, but Orr's single to left field made it 2-1.

Tyler Clippard (4-2) took the mound in the home portion and recorded the first two outs sandwiched around an Yunel Escobar walk. Ryan Church then singled on a grounder down the right-field line to make it first and third, and the Nats brought on Mike MacDougal in relief. Omar Infante grounded out to end the game and give MacDougal his 19th save.

McLouth's leadoff homer in the third inning gave the Braves an early 1-0 lead, but Zimmerman's RBI double in the fourth frame knotted things up.

It is the fourth straight year Atlanta missed the playoffs following a streak that saw the club make the postseason 14 out of 15 seasons. They missed the postseason in 1994, when the season was canceled in August..Anderson is the 89th player in major league history with 2,500 hits...Mock was 0-5 with a 7.03 ERA over his last six starts coming in...The Braves have won 10 of 15 versus the Nationals this year.