Smoltz 16th pitcher with 3,000 strikeouts
John Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major-league history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts, but was outpitched by John Lannan in the Washington Nationals' 6-0 win over the host Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Smoltz fanned Felipe Lopez in the third inning, the veteran hurler's fourth of the game, to reach the mark. He struck out 10 for the second straight start and for the 45th time in his 20-year career.
Lannan, a rookie, allowed 5 hits in 7 innings, and the Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak. Washington had lost six of seven and is just 3-15 since winning its first three games of the season.
The Braves' five-game winning streak came to an end.
Smoltz (3-1) allowed a run and 5 hits in 7 innings and didn't walk a batter. Still, his ERA rose 22 points to 0.78. He got no run support from an offense that came into the game leading the NL with a .286 average.
Willie Harris' RBI double in the second gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Washington added 5 runs in the ninth off reliever Jorge Campillo, who made a throwing error in the inning. Four of the runs were unearned.
Just two of Atlanta's eight baserunners reached second, and none got as face as third.
Lannan gave up 6 runs and 9 hits in his first appearance of the season against the Braves, in Washington on April 12. He was much better in his last start, Thursday at New York. In that one, Lannan struck out 11 without a walk in 6 innings and got a no-decision in a 3-2 loss to the Mets.
Ray King and Luis Ayala pitched the eighth for Washington. Jon Rauch pitched the ninth.
Brewers 9, Cardinals 8 (12): Gabe Kapler singled home the winning run with one out in the 12th inning, and host Milwaukee overcame another blown save by Eric Gagne to beat St. Louis.
Reds 8, Dodgers 1: Jerry Hairston Jr. had 4 hits in his debut as Cincinnati's leadoff hitter, and Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips each homered, leading the host Reds over Los Angeles.
Pirates 3, Marlins 2: Xavier Nady's 2-run single completed a 3-run Pittsburgh comeback, and the host Pirates ended a six-game losing streak by beating Florida.
Astros 11, Padres 7: Kaz Matsui's 2-run single in the eighth inning lifted host Houston over San Diego. Cy Young winner Jake Peavy allowed 4 earned runs, matching the total for his 4 previous starts combined. The Padres' ace allowed 7 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in 6 innings.
Phillies 8, Rockies 6: Pat Burrell's bases-clearing double off Manny Corpas in the ninth inning sent Philadelphia to a win over host Colorado. Corpas was two outs away from the save when Burrell sent a 2-2 fastball past diving center fielder Willy Taveras in the gap in left-center.
American League
Rays 6, Blue Jays 4: Eric Hinske drove in 2 runs and finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle, helping host Tampa Bay beat Toronto in Kissimmee, Fla.
Tigers 10, Rangers 2: Ramon Santiago homered for the first time since 2003 and drove in 3 runs to help host Detroit beat Texas. Magglio Ordonez also homered, giving him 1,000 RBI for his career, while Edgar Renteria had 4 hits.
Red Sox 7, Angels 6: Dustin Pedroia's tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning helped host Boston rally past Anaheim for its sixth straight win after ace Josh Beckett was scratched from his start with a stiff neck. Jacoby Ellsbury hit 2 solo homers, and Kevin Youkilis added a 2-run shot for Boston, while Pedroia went 4-for-5 with 3 doubles and a single.