Nationals Edge Braves in 12 Innings

Lopez's bases-loaded single drops Atlanta to 0-9 in one-run games

By Jesse Andrews, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 30, 2008 10:35 PM CDT

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Nationals Edge Braves in 12 Innings — Washington Nationals Felipe Lopez, bottom, steals second base as he slides under Atlanta Braves Ruben Gotay, top, in the sixth inning. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Atlanta Braves simply cannot win a one-run game. Felipe Lopez's bases-loaded hit to left with no outs in the 12th lifted the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 victory over the Braves on Wednesday, dropping Atlanta to 0-9 in games decided by the slimmest possible margin.

The Braves are the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose their first nine one-run games. The Nationals, meanwhile, have their first three-game winning streak since opening the season 3-0. They fell behind 2-1 in the 12th on Mark Kotsay's RBI single off Saul Rivera (3-1), who nonetheless earned the win with two innings of relief. (Read more MLB stories.)