Braves Suffer Gut Wrenching Loss

ATLANTA (AP) - Ricky Nolasco struck out nine straight Atlanta
Braves and finished with 16 strikeouts - the most by a major league
pitcher in more than two years - and the Florida Marlins held on
for a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.
      Trying to make a late push for the NL wild card, the Braves
rallied for two runs in the ninth inning and loaded the bases with
two outs. But the game ended when Matt Diaz was thrown out trying
to scamper back to third following a pitch in the dirt.
      Atlanta, which began the night three games behind Colorado for
the wild card, has lost two straight with four games remaining.
     
      (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)