Etemons Versteck » Thats a pretty neat feeling," said Calvert, whose

ATLANTA -- A strong and healthy Stephen Strasburg has the Washington Nationals feeling optimistic about their post-season chances. Strasburg pitched seven scoreless innings to end a long run of frustration against Atlanta, and the Nationals beat the struggling Braves 4-2 on Monday night to move to the verge of the NL East title. The Nationals can clinch the division by beating the defending champion Braves on Tuesday night. Strasburg said his teams focus is on the much bigger picture. "Its not just one win (Tuesday)," Strasburg said. "It might be to go to the playoffs, but thats not our ultimate goal. Weve got to keep playing good baseball." Strasburg (12-11) reached 200 innings for the first time. He had seven strikeouts and allowing only five hits. "He was in control," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He had a little bit of a tight neck tonight from sleeping, but he battled through that. So he wasnt on his A game but he sure pitched like it." The Nationals led 4-0 before the Braves scored two runs in the ninth inning. Rafael Soriano gave up Justin Uptons run-scoring double in the ninth. After Soriano walked Chris Johnson, Drew Storen yielded Christian Bethancourts single up the middle to drive in Upton. Storens wild pitch left runners on second and third, but B.J. Upton grounded out to end the game. Storen earned his sixth save. Ervin Santana (14-9) allowed two runs and only three hits, including Wilson Ramos homer, in six innings. The Braves (75-75) have lost four straight to fall to .500 for the first time since they were 1-1. They trail Pittsburgh by 4 1-2 games for the second NL wild-card spot. The frustration for the sagging Braves showed when Freddie Freeman was ejected for arguing following his strikeout to end the sixth. Freeman slammed his bat to the ground before leaving the field. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez took over the argument, kicked Freemans broken bat, and was tossed by home-plate umpire Tim Timmons. "I was just trying to get out there and keep him in the game," Gonzalez said of Freeman. Gonzalez acknowledged the Braves are "running out of games." "Were all collectively -- and Im talking about our coaches to our front office staff to our players, to our fans -- we want to win," Gonzalez said. "Anything short of us getting in some kind of playoff game or play-in game, its not acceptable." Washingtons Nate Schierholtz, who pinch-hit for Bryce Harper in the fourth, had a run-scoring single off Gus Schlosser in the eighth. HARPER WOOZY Harper left the game after feeling light-headed. Williams said Harper might have an illness that has gone through the team. DROUGHT ENDS Strasburg ended a streak of eight winless starts against Atlanta. His last win over the Braves came on Aug. 21, 2012. He had been 0-3 with a 7.17 ERA against the Braves this season, including a 6-2 loss at Washington last Wednesday. TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman (right hamstring) is beginning a rehab schedule at the teams complex in Viera, Florida. He is expected to play three innings at first base in a simulated game on Tuesday, followed by five innings on Wednesday, a game as the DH, and then progressing to seven and nine innings. He will play different positions as he progresses. Braves: C Evan Gattis met with team doctors on Monday to determine why his strep throat symptoms have lasted longer than expected. He has missed seven games since his last start on Sept. 7. UP NEXT Nationals: Tanner Roark, who ended a three-game losing streak by beating the New York Mets on Thursday, will try for his 14th win when he faces the Braves on Tuesday. Braves: Aaron Harang will attempt to continue his 2014 success against Washington. He is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts against the Nationals this season. Air Max From China . Bilbaos first victory in four rounds lifted it four points clear of Real Sociedad and kept it in command of Spains last Champions League berth for next season. In contrast, Betis was left 11 points from safety after a dismal performance that at times bordered on self-destruction amid some questionable refereeing decisions. Clearance Air Max . Rudy Gay made the tying basket in regulation and a 3-pointer in overtime that gave Sacramento the lead for good, and Fredette scored a career-high 24 points to help the Kings beat the Knicks 106-101 on Wednesday night. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . Russia has spent about $51 billion to deliver the Sochi Olympics, which run Feb. 7-23, making them the most expensive games ever, even though as a winter event it hosts many fewer athletes than summer games do. Fake Air Max .Y. -- Cory Schneider has to make the most of his opportunities to guard the New Jersey Devils net to earn more playing time. Cheap Authentic Air Max .Voegele will next play Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia, who saved 10 of 16 break points to defeat Annika Beck of Germany 7-6 (6), 6-4.Also, Marina Erakovic of New Zealand defeated eighth-seeded Caroline Garcia of France 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.LIVERPOOL, N.S. -- Manitobas Braden Calvert is one victory away from winning the Canadian junior mens curling championship. Calverts team from Winnipeg — third Kyle Kurz, second Lucas Van Den Bosch, lead Brendan Wilson and coach Tom Clasper — clinched first place in the round-robin and a bye to Sundays gold-medal game with a 5-4 win over Albertas Carter Lautner on Wednesday. With the victory, Manitoba improved to 8-0 and gained the necessary tiebreaker advantages to clinch first place and the bye to the final. "Thats a pretty neat feeling," said Calvert, whose team defeated reigning Canadian junior mens champ Matt Dunstone in the Manitoba final. "The boys have played so well in front of me; they just made my job so easy all week." Now, the issue becomes how to deal with nearly four full days of thinking about the final, with two round-robin games to play and a dayy off on Saturday.dddddddddddd "I think our team is great at staying loose and trying to have fun all the time," said Calvert with a smile. "I think well be OK that way. We brought a PS3 and NHL14, so well be pretty busy at that. Well hopefully be able to take our minds off it a little bit." In other mens championship pool games, New Brunswicks Rene Comeau (6-2) turned back Saskatchewans Tyler Hartung (5-3); B.C.s Cameron de Jong (4-4) shaded Ontarios Ryan McCrady (5-3) 4-3; and Nova Scotias Robert Mayhew (5-3) doubled Northern Ontarios Tanner Horgan (5-3) 10-5. In womens championship pool play, Albertas Kelsey Rocque suffered her first loss after seven straight wins, bowing 6-3 to Nova Scotias Mary Fay (6-2); B.C.s Kalia Van Osch (6-2) doubled Ontarios Molly Greenwood (5-3) 4-2; and Manitobas Meaghan Brezden (5-3) beat Saskatchewans Kristen Streifel (4-4) 7-6. ' ' '