Ottawa Lynx v Richmond Braves, July 26, 2007

The Diamond, Sec 106, Row C

Dan Smith and four relievers combined on a three-hitter as surging Richmond blanked visiting Ottawa 2-0.

Smith surrendered two hits and a walk with four strikeouts over four innings. Zach Schreiber tossed a perfect fifth before Ryan Basner retired six consecutive batters, striking out two, to get the win.

Will Startup set down four straight batters and Manny Acosta yielded a hit before recording the last two outs for his 12th save as the Braves (59-44) won their fifth straight and shut out the Lynx (40-65) for the second time in four games.

Brent Lillibridge walked three times and scored both of Richmond's runs. The 23-year-old shortstop walked, stole second and scored on Carlos Mendez's sacrifice fly in the first. He led off the eighth with a walk, moved up on a sacrifice and a wild pitch and came home on Wes Timmons' bases-loaded walk.

Timmons started the second with a single to left field and Martin Prado began the third with a base hit to right for Richmond's only hits.

Lynx starter Fabio Castro (4-3) yielded a run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Yoel Hernandez set down eight straight batters before Kane Davis surrendered a run on four walks and a wild pitch with one strikeout in the eighth.

Javon Moran, Chris Roberson and Carlos Leon collected the only hits for Ottawa, which has lost six straight.