Braves try to carry momentum into series vs. Nats

Baseball Betting Lines

09/07/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After rallying for a big win two days ago, the Atlanta Braves will hope for an easier time tonight when they begin a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Turner Field.

The Braves trailed 8-2 on Wednesday against the Phillies before plating four runs in the eighth. Matt Diaz then sent the club home winners as he hit a bases-clearing double in the ninth with two outs to lift Atlanta to a 9-8 victory.

Willie Harris homered for the Braves, who improved to just 2-4 on their current nine-game homestand. The club is 7 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top spot in the NL East and 5 1/2 games off the pace in the wild card race.

Atlanta starting pitcher Tim Hudson surrendered five runs on a season-high 11 hits with two walks and four strikeouts over five frames. Rafael Soriano (3-3) earned the win with a scoreless ninth.

Brian McCann, though, left the game in the eighth with a bruised left ankle and is questionable for tonight's game.

The Braves are set to send John Smoltz to the hill tonight. Smoltz is 12-7 this year with a 3.09 earned run average and is coming off a loss last time out on Sunday versus the Mets. He allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings in that one.

Smoltz has faced the Washington franchise 65 times in his career, 38 of them starts, and is 19-11 with 17 saves and four complete games. The right-hander also has a stellar 2.63 ERA against the Expos/Nationals after besting the club on June 27 behind five shutout frames.

Washington comes into Friday's game red hot, as the club has won five straight games. The Nationals just completed a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins with a 6-4 victory on Wednesday.

Austin Kearns homered and scored three times in the win, while Brian Schneider drove in a pair of runs.

Tim Redding started but left in the third inning after getting hit on his right elbow by a sharp grounder. Jonathan Albaladejo made his major-league debut in relief of Redding and tossed 1 2/3 hitless frames, while Luis Ayala (1-2) picked up the win after working a flawless seventh. Chad Cordero took care of the ninth for his 31st save of the campaign.

Joel Hanrahan will try to turn in his second solid outing when he toes the rubber for the Nationals tonight. Hanrahan picked up a win Saturday over the Giants behind six innings of one-hit, one-run ball. He also walked just one batter to improve to 4-2 with a 5.14 ERA.

The right-hander will be making just his eighth career start tonight and first against the Braves.

Atlanta holds a 7-5 edge over Washington this season and has won five of six at Turner Field.

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How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.