WASHINGTON(AP) -- Tommy Hanson is a major reason why the Atlanta
Braves are closing the season with a flourish. They're going to
need more than Hanson's help to get into the playoffs.

The rookie pitched seven innings Saturday for his 11th win,
Yunel Escobar drove in three runs and the Braves beat the
Washington Nationals 11-5 on Saturday for their fifth
consecutive victory.

Atlanta pulled within 2 1/2 games of Colorado for the NL wild
card when the Rockies lost 6-3 to St. Louis, which clinched the
NL Central title. The Braves (84-70) have won 13 of 15 and are
50-30 since June 27, improving to a season-best 14 games over
.500.

Hanson (11-4) allowed four hits and four runs - three of them on
Mike Morse's pinch-hit homer. The right-hander, who made his
major league debut on June 7, struck out seven and walked one.

"Since I've been up here, we've been playing really well,"
Hanson said. "Hopefully, we keep winning games and get lucky."

Atlanta was six games under .500 before going on its impressive
run. Besides Hanson's promotion, the Braves traded for Nate
McLouth in late May and Adam LaRoche in late July.

"It's getting to be a lot more fun," manager Bobby Cox said. "I
think we're pretty good right now."

It could be difficult for Atlanta to catch the Rockies, but the
Braves have four more games against the woeful Nationals, who
lost for the 102nd time, matching their total from last year
with eight games remaining.

Atlanta catcher Brian McCann said the 6-foot-6, 23-year-old
Hanson has played a key role in launching the team into
contention.

"What he brings to the team is a guy who has No. 1-type stuff,"
he said.

The Braves took advantage of Washington's shoddy defense to jump
out to a 5-0 lead. Yunel Escobar had a two-out, two-run single
off Garrett Mock (3-10) in the first and third baseman Pete
Orr's throwing error on Matt Diaz's slow roller led to two more
runs.

Orr got the start in place of Ryan Zimmerman, who pinch hit in
the eighth inning and flied out.

Right fielder Elijah Dukes committed the first of his two errors
in the second, muffing Chipper Jones' fly ball for a two-base
miscue that allowed Martin Prado to score. Dukes also committed
an error in the ninth.

Washington has allowed five unearned runs on four errors in the
last two games.

"If it could go wrong, it went wrong," Nationals manager Jim
Riggleman said. "Freakish things are happening."

Atlanta broke it open with five runs in the ninth. McCann hit a
two-run homer, Jones and Escobar had RBI doubles and LaRoche
singled in a run.

"You can't really take any hitters off in our lineup," Jones
said. "It was just a matter of time before we put it all
together and started rattling off wins."

Mock, who lost his fifth consecutive decision, allowed six runs,
four earned, and seven hits in five innings. Willie Harris had a
two-out RBI single in the third, Morse connected in the fifth
and Ian Desmond added a sacrifice fly in the ninth for
Washington.

NOTES: Riggleman said Zimmerman is a little banged up. "He's
been playing through some nagging stuff," Riggleman said. "He's
sore in a couple of different areas." Zimmerman expects to play
Sunday. "I think everyone is banged up right now," he said. ...
Nationals SS Cristian Guzman may not play in the field again
this season. He's suffering from a sore shoulder, which has
limited him to pinch hitting. ... Washington LHP Sean Burnett,
whose bruised left thumb has hampered him, may not pitch again
this season. "I doubt if we'll use him. That bone contusion has
not gotten better," Riggleman said. ... Atlanta is 45-35 on the
road and 39-35 at Turner Field.