Olsen Uses Arm, Bat to Lead Nats to Win

By DAN STAMM

Updated 5:45 PM EST, Sun, Jul 5, 2009

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The Nats actually won a series Sunday behind a great effort by pitcher Scott Olsen.

Olsen pitched into the ninth inning, newly acquired Nyjer Morgan had three hits and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday for their second straight victory.

Olsen (2-4) allowed three runs and eight hits over 8 2-3 innings, prevailing for the first time since returning June 28 from the 15-day disabled list after a bout with left shoulder tendinitis. He walked five and struck out five.

Olsen helped his own cause with his first two hits of the season, including an RBI single.

The Nats won a series for the first time since mid-June when they took two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Derek Lowe (7-7), the Braves’ $60 million man, lost for the fourth time in his past five starts. The right-hander lasted 5.1 innings, allowing four runs and 10 hits.

Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first when Morgan hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored on Ryan Zimmerman's single to right. Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett came to D.C. from Pittsburgh in a trade Tuesday.

A two-run second made it 3-0. Cristian Guzman singled with one down and scored on Ronnie Belliard's two-out double to center, Belliard's first RBI since June 2. Belliard moved to third on the throw home, then scored on Olsen's bloop single to left.

Lowe departed after loading the bases in the sixth on a Josh Bard double, a walk to Belliard and Olsen's second single. Boone Logan relieved and got Morgan to bounce into a fielder's choice force out at home before Nick Johnson lined an RBI single to left for a 4-1 lead.

In the eighth, Morgan capped the Nats scoring when he doubled home Belliard, who led off with a single and moved up on Olsen's sacrifice bunt.

The Nats will end the first-half of the season on the road in Colorado and Houston.