WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- Emergency starter Miguel Batista and three relievers combined on a five-hit shutout Tuesday to lift the Washington Nationals to a 3-0 win over Atlanta.
Batista was tapped to pitch when the scheduled starter -- rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg -- was scratched after experiencing tightness during the pre-game warmup. An MRI examination is planned.
Batista (1-2) responded with five shutout innings, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out six.
Sean Burnett and Drew Storen teamed up for three scoreless frames and Matt Capps earned his 25th save with a 1-2-3 ninth for the Nationals, who won the opener of a three-game set against the Braves.
Ian Desmond's two-run single in the second inning extended Washington's lead to 3-0.
Tommy Hanson (8-7) absorbed the tough-luck loss, allowing only one earned run on six hits in six innings for Atlanta.
