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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Braves tighten NL wild-card gap


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens spun five-hit ball over seven innings in a 4-0 win over Florida.

GREGORY SMITH | Associated Press

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ATLANTA — The banner in right field summed up how the Atlanta Braves feel about this final week of the season.

"Believe."

Jair Jurrjens pitched five-hit ball over seven innings, Chipper Jones homered and the Braves beat Florida 4-0 last night for their 15th win in 17 games, a stretch that has lifted them into playoff contention with six games left in the regular season.

Atlanta closed within two games of idle Colorado in the NL wild-card race and moved to four behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East. The Phillies lost 8-2 at home to Houston.

"We've got a chance to do it," said manager Bobby Cox, whose team hasn't made the playoffs since the last of its record 14 straight division titles in 2005. "You can't get away from it. We're watching the scoreboard every inning. But really, you can only worry about your own team."

The Braves haven't caused Cox any worries lately. They won their seventh straight, matching a season high set at the start of this run, behind another dominant performance by Jurrjens (14-10). The right-hander won his fourth in a row and has gone at least seven innings in seven straight starts, allowing only eight earned runs in 50 2/3 innings (a 1.42 ERA) during that stretch.

Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano finished off the five-hitter with one inning apiece for Atlanta's 10th shutout of the season.

"You've got to feel somewhat confident," said Moylan, who set a team record with his 85th appearance of the season. "We've still got a long ways to go, six games to go. Anything can happen."

Florida's third loss in four games all but finished off the Marlins, who dropped 5 1/2 games behind the Rockies and can do no better than tie for the wild card. One more Florida loss or Colorado win would eliminate the Marlins.

The Braves managed just three hits but took advantage of 11 walks by the Marlins — including a career-worst eight by starter Anibal Sanchez (3-8).

"I never walked that many, ever," he said. "I don't know what happened."

Added Florida catcher John Baker: "The way Jurrjens was pitching, and three walks, we had no chance to win."

ASTROS 8, PHILLIES 2:

Yorman Bazardo (1-2) allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings against the team that cut him in spring training, and helped visiting Houston beat Philadelphia, preventing the Phillies from reducing their magic number.

The Phillies, who had an 8 1/2-game lead with 13 remaining, are four ahead of Atlanta in the NL East with six left. The Phillies, who have lost five of seven, still have a magic number of three for their third straight division title.

Cole Hamels (10-10) gave up six runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings for Philadelphia.

PIRATES 11, DODGERS 1:

Andy LaRoche homered twice, doubled twice and singled, driving in six runs as last-place Pittsburgh prevented visiting Los Angeles from clinching the NL West.

The Dodgers' magic number remained two.

NATIONALS 2, METS 1:

Mike Morse homered for the third straight game and Ross Detwiler (1-6) allowed seven hits and one run in six inning to earn his first career win as Washington beat visiting New York.

Morse broke a 1-all tie when he led off the sixth with his third homer this season, all in the past three games. During the stretch he has doubled his career total — Morse had three before Saturday, all in 2005.