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Braves nip Nationals by seat of their pants

ANDRELTON SIMMONS hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, then made an eye-popping play to start the ninth as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Washington Nationals, 3-2, last night and ended their four-game losing streak.

ANDRELTON SIMMONS hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, then made an eye-popping play to start the ninth as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Washington Nationals, 3-2, last night and ended their four-game losing streak.

Atlanta beat the Nationals for the eighth straight time dating to last season. The Braves swept three games at Washington earlier this month.

Washington's Stephen Strasburg ended his career-worst streak of losses in four straight starts. He allowed two runs in six innings. Manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg has "a little tightness" in his right forearm and was seen by a doctor after the game.

Ian Desmond led off the ninth with a slow grounder that Simmons charged. The Atlanta shortstop slipped as he fielded the ball and fell on his backside, but somehow fired a strike from the seat of his pants that first baseman Freddie Freeman caught with a big stretch.

Desmond was called out on a close play, and disagreed with the decision. Washington manager Davey Johnson came out to argue with umpire Tim Timmons.

Washington's Jayson Werth crumpled to the ground after fouling a ball off his left foot in the eighth. He completed his at-bat - a strikeout - and was replaced in rightfield in the bottom of the inning.

In another NL game:

* At Milwaukee, pitcher Yovani Gallardo (3-1) hit one of five home runs for the Brewers, which went back-to-back twice in a 10-4 rout of Pittsburgh.

* At Chicago, Darwin Barney and Cody Ransom each drove in two runs as the Cubs defeated San Diego, 5-3. Barney hit a pair of RBI doubles and Ransom homered and singled in the go-ahead run.

* At St. Louis, Mat Latos (2-0) outdueled Adam Wainwright (4-2) as San Diego beat the Cardinals, 2-1.

In AL games: * 

At Kansas City, Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2) pitched into the eighth inning, Ryan Raburn hit two home runs and Cleveland pounded the Royals, 9-0.

* At New York, Carlos Corporan homered and drove in four runs, Brandon Barnes drove in three, and Houston beat ex-Astro Andy Pettitte and the Yankees, 9-1.

* At Detroit, Prince Fielder's towering three-run homer in the sixth inning put the Tigers ahead, and they held on for their fourth straight win, 4-3 over the Minnesota Twins.

Noteworthy * 

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated shortstop Hanley Ramirez from the disabled list and made room for him on the roster by placing pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the bereavement list. Ramirez had been out since tearing a ligament in his right thumb in the World Baseball Classic.

In other Dodgers news, outfield prospect Yasiel Puig faces charges of reckless driving, speeding and driving without proof of insurance in Chattanooga, Tenn.

* The Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder Casper Wells from Oakland for cash and will become his fourth AL team in less than a month.

* New York Mets third baseman David Wright was held out of the starting lineup last night at Miami because of a stiff neck, and said he hoped to miss only one game. Wright said neck spasms began to bother him during Sunday's loss to the Phillies, and he felt worse when he woke up Monday.

"It's not something I'm worried about," Wright said before heading to treatment. "I just wouldn't be any good to anybody today." * St. Louis demoted struggling lefthanded reliever Marc Rzepczynski to the minor leagues and promoted righthanded starter Seth Maness, who was the Cardinals' minor league pitcher of the year last season.

* Kevin Youkilis is out of the New York Yankees' lineup for the eighth time in nine games because of a bad back and he could be headed to the disabled list. Youkilis had an MRI yesterday.

* Washington activated catcher Wilson Ramos (strained hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned catcher Jhonatan Solano to Triple A.

* San Francisco placed lefthander Jose Mijares on bereavement leave and recalled right-hander Sandy Rosario from Triple A Fresno.

* Seattle activated outfielder Michael Saunders (sprained shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Carlos Peguero to Triple A.