he has started 27 games in his career against the atlanta braves. 5-15 with a 5.27era. jones is 0 for his last 14. we know he won't be hitting .206 for long, but the braves are 13th in batting average, 14th in home runs, and they're also 14th in runs scored. only the pirates and the houston aft troys have scored fewer home runs than atlanta. and we have some kids on the mound tonight. one of them getting the thrill of taking with livan hernandez. >> rob: he just taught that kid a breaking ball, and he's only 7 yours old. >> bob: how to throw it 66 miles an hour. >> rob: great numbers to start the year, bob, hopefully tonight it will continue. 11 straight years of 30 starts or more. and not a fan of the braves, as you said, 5-15 lifetime against them career-wise. the postman, he always delivers. he'll go out there and pitch in the cold, when it was 43 in chicago, or tonight when it's 80 degrees, stop the madness. just go out there and do what you do livan. >> bob: defensively, the nats are ranked number 7 in the lash league. beautiful night that the ballpark. nate mclouth

atlanta. ninth inning, braves down 9-6 and brooks conrad drives one deep. laynce nix looking like he had it. no go. off his glove for a game-winning grand slam. look at conrad. he thought nix made the grab. no, no, my friend, you're the hero with a walk-off granny. braves win it 10-9 in the ninth. that's your look at sports on "early today." >>> lindsay lohan parties on a yacht while a judge in los angeles throws the book at her. your early-morning entertainment headlines are straight ahead. >>> plus, the efforts one community took in defense of old glory. you're watching "early today." >>> well, it's time for a look at your weekend forecast. welcome back. and it's a summer-like day today from florida all the way up to new england. rain today, though, chicago, ohio valley down to the tennessee valley. we're dry in the middle of the country. as we look at saturday, the east coast cools off a little bit. still warm and a little humid down along the gulf, but no big issues on saturday, and even into sunday, a little bit of wet weather heads here from new york to washington, d.c., but it won't b

nationals lose tonight to marlins, couple of games coming up one more in florida atlanta braves cometown tuesday and wednesday and thursday and florida comes back up for their first trip for a weekend set next weekend at nationals park craig tonight could not get ray past that 5th inning it's the second shortest outing of the season for craig >> yeah, he was a real pitch efficient for tonight that's 91, but the pitcher leer middle of the play loops the ball to right field then after two outs, goes to the wall, sitting them looking at it, ends up with a double, scores first, tribal to center field as he seelingsed down in that inning fourth inning strikes out and he singles on the sixth straight then you single out sixth straight fast ball he singles there triples on the fourth then once you've seen that many sliders somebody is going to end up hitting it hard morgans throws here you'll see the man way over to the right not close to being in the direct line nobody to cover fudge hustling all the way got injured somehow there i don't know if it was his knee or thigh but fifth inning he

. >>> in sports, a huge comeback win for the atlanta braves.he second inning, the visiting reds' joey votto hit a grand slam homer, at one point the reds led 8-0 and it was 9-3 into the bottom of the ninth. but atlanta scored two on a single, another on a reds error and capped it with a walkoff grand slam tipped by the center fielder's glove. that shocked everyone, including pinch hinter brooks conrad. the final braves 10, reds 9. >>> now to houston where the three run bomb in the first was plenty. jimenez held the astros to one hit for a 4-0 victory becoming the season's first eight game winner. >>> in the american league, toronto at seattle, the mariners' josh bard hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to tie it and ken griffey jr. came off the bench to smack a single for a 4-3 walkoff win. >>> and in boston, kevin youkilis hit a three run homer in the third and later added an rbi double. and jon lester struck out nine in a complete game red sox win over the twins 6-2. >>> when we return, another look at this morning's top stories. and newly minte

the atlanta braves can't lose them all on road where they dropped eight straight prior to tonight. at was your scenario as the nats had to host atlanta and something had to give. bottom two, nats down. then the game is tie at 2. all right. so that's pretty g. late near the 2, roger had a great catch the other day. this one to left. down for a double for morgan. the nats had a 3-2 lead. but we would go to extra innings. tied at 6. matt diaz goes the other way. the nats drop 1 in 10 innings. 7-6 is the final score. stephen strasburg is in syracuse, new york getting ready for friday's debut. if things go well there, he could be in d.c. by the beginning of next month. possibly an early series against cincinnati but either way the nats' future ace, number one starter is taking everything in stride. so says his g.m. >> he's excited for the new challenge. it's a step in the direction that he wants to be in. you know, obviously his confidence level is high. he believes that he can be pitching in the big leagues right now and that's the confidence level we want him to be at. but he understan

the local legend down there is when anyone showed up to scout him who was not an atlanta braves scoute are times when he would mysteriously not be able to be found in the ballpark that day, or was not in the line-up. >> rob: so they didn't -- how anybody but the braves to scout this young man. >> bob: well, there are suggestions that at times that attempt was made. but i think it's great when a team can sign a home town kid. the braves have probably done more of that than anybody in baseball. >> rob: and when they couldn't get tim hudson initially, they traded for him, and then signed him as a free agent or to be a extension this last year. >> bob: heyward is on a hitting streak, 7 for his last 14. pulls that ball. a real slow one by livan. i don't think we'll look up in the next year or two and jason heyward will be batting 6th very long. next up is melky cabrera. in fact some day when chipper retires, i could sigh this guy being the third or fourth hitter. and a 2-2. livan 41 pitches first inning. 13 in the second, 15 in the third. >> rob: probably thinking what do we do. to we ask

the atlanta braves will be in town for a series beginning tuesday, wednesday, and thursday at nationalsll talk about atlanta when we come back. other things you can tell people about geico - great claims service and a 97% customer satisfaction rate. show people really trust us. gecko: yeah right, that makes sense. boss: trust is key when talking about geico. you gotta feel it. why don't you and i practice that with a little exercise where i fall backwards and you catch me. gecko: uh no sir, honestly... uh...i don't think...uh... boss: no, no. we can do this. gecko: oh dear. vo: geico. fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. >> johnny: our nats xtra pregame show brought to you by -- weather conditions in miami, 87 degrees, humidity of 75%. winds southeast at 10. and the forecast -- first pitch in a couple of minutes. mostly sunny, only 10% chance of rain this afternoon. 3.0 is all you need to know. also you need to know about bobby cox and company coming to town for a series against the nationals. tuesday night on masn in hd, also wednesday night and then on thursday

the mets five out and the atlanta braves five and a half out. >> this is not anything to be concerned about. this is one of the things where you -- 37 games -- you hope that they are able to split the series tomorrow. the pitching matchup, i think favors the nationals a little bit. but just the same, we haven't seen reached the one-third mark of the season. it's 54, 54 and 54. at this point and time, you're grateful they're over .500 and you hope that they keep winning a couple for every game they lose. >> it's not like the ball club is getting blow out. most of the time they kept it close. >> they lose it on the unearned run. >> that's right. how about luis atilano tonight? he gets -- doesn't get tagged with any win or loss. no decision. he has struggled and then he got the trouble later on. >> well, he was successful when he kept the ball down in the strike zone, but he gave up the home run there to gonzalez and then smith with another home run on the fastball. again, this guy had only given up one home run in his previous four starts, but later on, he got the strikeout pitch workin

clarke, the national's roy from the part of virginia, basically a scouting specialist for the atlanta bravescast for lieutenants. >> ron touched on an important item, continuity and a good feeling in the clubhouse. >> it's changed completely. whether it'ses the people they got rid of or the people they brought in, probably combination of the two, but the character has changed a great deal. >> how about the pitching matchups today? we'll look at them when we come back at the nats extra pregame. we'll be back in just a moment. stay with us. game time forecast, first pitch mostly sunny, only 10% chance of rain. 3.0 is all you need to know. >> that was a hanging breaking ball, 4-0 colorado and there's nothing cheap about any of these hits. >> they just nailed that. >> well, the last time outfield against the rockies, it's the day olsen would much rather forget. >> well, it's interesting that you past the low point of his year because since then, he's been terrific and had the near no-hitter. this is a guy who i wouldn't say he's reinvented himself but dug back into the pitcher he was a few years

with republican senator jim bunning of the 1968 pittsburgh pirates honoring bobby cox of the atlanta bravesho is scheduled to retire after 29 years of his major league manager. we think he might have batted against bunning when cox played third base for the yankees. he produced the mo juiced. >> one thing i want to ask you gentlemen to do, speak at my funeral. >> to wisconsin and the deer crashers. two deer blasted through the glass doors of the ale house. deer like beer. the bar/restaurant was not prepared for the unexpected guests, therefore, wrestled down to the floor for their own protection. since the regular patrons were watching a basketball game at the time. a milwaukee bucks game. that's sports. i'm vip burns, now back to lou zimmerman in atlanta. sorry, i had a flashback. >>> the crisis continues in nashville. the death count in tennessee alone is now 19. we go there next. re/max agents know their markets, and they care enough to get to know you, too. nobody sells more real estate than re/max. visit remax.com today. [ monkey screeches ] ♪ [ male announcer ] a bath becomes even mor

atlanta braves, by the washing, got nate mccloud's second homer of the year at home tonight and turnedfter bobby cox's worst road trip in his ten your as atlanta manager having lost nine in a row. they went 0-70 that trip. last time they got no hit by ubaldo jimenez. that started thatstreak. 2-0 to nyjer morgan who has struck out swinging and popped up adam kennedy 1-2 with two really hard hit balls tonight four runs seven hits already. >> bob: 92 on the fast ball and a strike. >> rod: it was juan gonzalez drove in 35 runs in april. it was the first player since 198 2-2. >> rod: i know juan gonzalez had a bunch of rbis that year. i know i think manny ramirez had 93, may be it was 98 or 99. the guys in the american league back in the day. they could put a hurting on you. i still don't think -- what is it 191. for the season. i don't think that will ever -- morgan up the middle. this could be interesting. off the glove of ramirez. that will enable desmond to score and morgan to second base. if the centerfielder picks up that ball, who knows if desmond scores and the nationals lead 5- 0.

. >> johnny: well, the atlanta braves will be in town on tuesday for three games. we'll talk about their starting pitcher, kawakami, and hernandez goes for the nats on tuesday night. ♪ bohm-bohm, bohm-bohm, bohm-bohm ♪ ♪ bohm, bohm-bohm-bohm-bohm ♪ bohm-bohm, bohm-bohm, bohm-bohm ♪ ♪ bohm, bohm-bohm-bohm-bohm ♪ bohm-bohm, bohm-bohm, bohm-bohm, bohm ♪ ♪ if you want a revolution, the only solution, evolve ♪ ♪ you gotta evolve ♪ if you want a revolution, the only solution, evolve ♪ ♪ you gotta evolve ♪ if you're getting off track and you want to get back ♪ ♪ may take a lot of work, gonna break your back ♪ ♪ if you want a revolution, the only solution, evolve ♪ ♪ you gotta evolve ♪ no matter what they do, they can't break your stride ♪ ♪ evolution is a thing that starts inside ♪ ♪ throw your hands up, pat your friends with pride ♪ ♪ hold your head high, no need to hide ♪ ♪ e-v-o-l-v-e ♪ come on, get inside, come and ride with me ♪ ♪ if you want a revolution, the only solution, evolve ♪ ♪ you gotta evolve ♪ if you want a revolution, the only solution, evolve ♪ ♪ you got

atlanta braves tuesday night an thursday night rein the marlins come to town next weekend. m here and the first time we've sixteen atlanta in tun in washington this year. going to be fun. mets come back here early on we go through the east quite a bit. >> record of 13 and 10. one-half game out of the's. nationals on a 3-game waning trek. let's have durasite back and relax and enjoy with us april flash backs. >> morgan is running it. in it, first. that's untruer of. there he goes. that ball is driven. straight away center. gone. with a pick. got to throw pick. that's a line drive. game over. catch. miracle in left. by willie harris. caught. he gets it. he gets it. scores two runs. should score two. all the rbis. gonzalez. throws up one. big slow breaking ball. by gop stall ez. what a catch. major league debut. his first major league strikeout. fast ball up. can't catch him. two outs. clifford throwing hard today. wow. 21 pitches. 17 strike. swing and a miss. 5 for 5. he's out. right on the corner. he's gone. he taking him up and in. 8th career out. pitch and throws him out. a

we have jason hayward with the at atlanta braves and with the baltimore club there's a lot of young playersy proud that we can be proud of it. p> i want to ask you about osteo arthritis and how it has affected you now. >> after 23 years of playing major league baseball, never had any problems at all. all of a sudden after 5 ears of retirement from baseball, i hhve started to have trouble on my right knee. i wasn't able to drive from my home to the ballpark. i one able to do -- i wasn't able to do some things and i had never een on the disabled list. there was something that could be done. i had aashot and it's only a pinch and it lasts for six months and it's wonderr i have had a wonderful career after that. >> we are so happy about that. it's arthritis awareness month and you are out there to make sure that others don't go through that pain for a 3 >>> 8:31 is the time. i'm patrice harris. >>> i'm megan gell land and -- d let's go to meteorologist tony tapagnotti, and there's brightening of the skies. >>> radar is showing that things are looking pretty good. the rain and the mist is moving

bobby's first coaching job allowed him to manage the braves, but he left atlanta in 1982 to work with the toronto blue jace. bobby realized -- blue jays. bobby realized success quickly in toronto as he led the blue jays to the american league east crown in 1985. for these efforts he was named major league manager of the year by the baseball writers' association of america, the associated press and supporting -- sporting news. after his winning seasoning in toronto, bobby returned to georgia to work with the braves again in 1985. this time as general manager. it was then that he began creating a baseball empire, by restructuring the team from the farm system up through the major leagues. in the 1990's he was back in the dugout as manager of the braves and he led them to five national league pennants, one world series championship and 14 consecutive division titles. he was named manager of the year once again and to this day he's still the only coach to win manager of the year in both the american and national leagues. bobby has won over 2,000 games and is the all-time winningest coach

. >> it took extra innings but the braves beat the national 7- 6. atlanta an eight-game losing streak. let's pick it up in the bottom of the sixth inning. joshed takes this pitch to left field. everyone is running. roger is flying in. this ball game was tied at 6. in the top of the 10th, matt cassel on the hill for washington. a good piece of hitting here. atlanta gets the 7-6 win over the nationals. strasburg went through his normal routine at syracuse and talked about his time in the minors. he says he is just doing what he has to do to make it work at the next level. >> i am just trying to keep throwing strikes and throwing the ball down the zone. just facing better hitters and a higher level of competition. just doing my best. >> the pitch is this friday. the yankees completed the sweep over the orioles. nick johnson homered and this was trouble from the get go. it was six-one. the yankees win 7-5. the orioles are just seven and 214 this season. more than 10,000 fans watched d.c. united get their first win. they beat kansas city 2-1. danny recently retu

braves here in town a couple u.s. senators decide they would hold a celebration for atlanta skipper, bobby cox. it was u.s. nator, isaacson and rockefeller taking the legendary braves skipper into the house chamber and holding a party to honor his 50 years in baseball. that is cox, c-o-x. i point that out because they got a cake, which the pastry chef regrettable spelling error. i believe you know what those last two letters are and unless he is the mascot for the university of south carolina or become an adult film star, that is not the way that's supposed to be spelled. perhaps the braves will do better. today they play the nats. we'll have highlights tonight. you guys can read, can't you? >> we can read. >> can you believe? >> we can laugh and that might make it into gbu at some point. >> i suspect it will. were we okay? >> you handled it with grace, my friend. >> there's a first time for everything. >> we want to go back to breaking news we have been following out of charlottesville. top officials at uva are discussing ways to prevent another tragedy on campus, by now, you probably know police believe 2

arizona and atlanta today, a solo shot off the left field wall and 1-0 braves. n gives up 6 runs in this one. 7-1 atlanta and this one is also gone. the 2nd of the day and it's 8-1 braves and the final is 13-1. here's what to look for the next couple of days here on masn and masn 2, at st. louis tomorrow night and st. louis on tuesday, and then the ball club is back at the nationals park and on friday, the o's come down and it's on masn 2 in hd. we hope to see you all week long starting on wednesday. when you look at the pitching matchups for tomorrow, it's up to stammen to get this ball back on track after losing 2-1 in colorado. >> stammen has terrific outings and he got a no decision last time out. he went 5 and allowed 6 hits and walked 4 and struck out 2. generally he's not walked that many hitters and that's a big plus when it comes to winning ball games. morse had a 4-year $41 million deal and since then, 6 wins and 13 losses and 5 runs a game. maybe they are gets him at the right time. >> the cardinals are beating been the reds today, 7-2. the cardinals a

. >>> braves-astros. atlanta, a nine-game losing jag which makes houston feel so much better about dropping eight to start the season. jerdjerd. like butter. well, butter that's been in the fridge. he swings it hard. hunter pence. mansala. bourn. heyward again swinging it. deep to right. hunt r pence has got it! don't do that in front of the home folks, they pay to see the rookie hit home runs. oh, well, all is well that ends well. >> i got company, matthew barnaby with me. one game in the stanley cup players tonight. the giant killer montreal canadiens. they took out alexander ovechkin and the canadiens and now took their can turn against sidney crosby and the defending champion pittsburgh penguins. crosby, ready to go. scary moment for the canadiens. their good big defenseman markov clears it then goes down hard to the ice the matt cook with a hard hit. is this clean? >> to me this is clean. you is just finishing your check. clean check, but always draws a crowd. >> penguins got a power may out tv and they woul