619 punches and 41 percent of his power shots.ddddddddddddCuellar, the Argentine veteran trained by Freddie Roach, attacked Mares from the opening round, but the champions predictability allowed Mar

WASHINGTON -- Production from the top of the order and rookie pitcher Reynaldo Lopez fueled an early lead for the Washington Nationals. Then a relay throw saved the day for the NL contenders.Daniel Murphy hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Lopez pitched seven innings for his first major league win and the Washington Nationals held off the Atlanta Braves 7-6 on Saturday night.Trailing 7-1 entering the eighth, Atlanta scored one run in the eighth and four in the ninth against the bullpen. Mark Melancon came on after the Braves scored twice in the ninth and recorded the final three outs for his 33rd save.Erick Aybars two-run double against Melancon pulled the Braves within one. With no outs and Freddie Freeman on deck, Aybar tried for third base and was thrown out by shortstop Danny Espinosa, who relayed the cutoff toss from center fielder Ben Revere.The Braves challenged the call, but replay upheld the ruling.The game-saver was a relay that you work on all the time from Ben to Danny, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. If (Danny) had a lesser arm, it would have been a runner on third.Trea Turner had three hits, including a homer and one of Washingtons three triples. Revere had the other two and drove in a run for the NL East leaders.The Nationals played their fifth straight game without injured right fielder Bryce Harper and first without former closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was released before the game to make room on the roster for Lopez (1-1). The right-handed Lopez allowed one run and five hits.It was a great performance, Baker said. We didnt want to blow that.Rob Whalen (1-1) surrendered six runs and six hits over five innings in his third big league start. The Braves have lost three of four.Lopez, one of Washingtons top prospects, didnt pitch five full innings in either of his previous big league starts, and this start opened with a thud. Freeman put Atlanta up 1-0 in the first with his 23rd home run, matching his career high. Lopez kept Atlanta scoreless from there while dancing out of occasional trouble.Its an incredible feeling especially since Im trying to help the team get a playoff spot, the rookie said of his first win.Baker said Lopez would probably get another start, but wouldnt commit.Washington took a 2-1 lead in the first with Turners leadoff triple and Murphys towering drive down the right-field line.Turner homered during a two-run third inning and scored his third run in the fifth on Reveres second triple.Papelbon was 2-4 with a 4.37 ERA and 19 saves this season. He labored in July and only pitched 2 2/3 innings after his final blown save on July 26. The Nationals acquired Melancon a few days later from Pittsburgh.THE NEW GUYRHP Jason Hursh made his major league debut in the sixth inning one day after day after he called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. The reliever allowed one run on three hits with one strikeout.WERTH STREAKINGJayson Werths sixth-inning single extended his on-base streak to 42-games. Werth owns the longest active streak in the majors and is one game behind Ryan Zimmermans club record of 43 set in 2009.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: Chris Withrow, on the DL since Aug. 8 with right elbow inflammation, had an MRI that showed no ligament damage. The right-hander will begin throwing Tuesday. ... The Braves recalled RHP Ryan Weber from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned RHP Akeel Morris to Double-A Mississippi before the game.Nationals: Harper had an MRI for his lingering neck issue, general manager Mike Rizzo announced Saturday. It was clean, so thats good news, Rizzo said, adding there are no plans to place Harper on the DL for now. The 2015 NL MVP last played Aug. 6.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (2-2, 3.92 ERA) allowed only two runs in 18 innings over his last three starts.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (12-6, 2.88 ERA) is 4-1 with a 1.84 ERA in career starts against Atlanta.Cheap Custom Baseball Jerseys . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Custom St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http://www.customjerseysbaseball.com/custom-kansas-city-royals-jerseys-394x.html . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Custom Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70.LOS ANGELES -- Abner Mares raised his hands in victory right before the final bell, and he dropped to his knees in relief moments later. A few months after his boxing career appeared to be in jeopardy, he was a champion again.Mares knocked down Jesus Cuellar in the 11th round and hung on for a split-decision victory Saturday night to claim Cuellars WBA featherweight title.Im so glad to be called a world champion again, Mares said. It means the world to me.Mares (30-2-1) earned his fourth world title in three weight classes with a resourceful performance against Cuellar (28-2). The powerful Argentine champion hadnt lost in 11 fights since October 2011, but Mares punctuated his effort with a big right hand early in the 11th round, sending the champion sprawling onto his backside.Two judges favored Mares 117-110 and 116-111, while a third scored it for Cuellar, 115-112. The Associated Press scored it 115-112 for Mares.Jermall Charlo also defended his IBF 154-pound belt with a fifth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Julian Williams at the downtown Galen Center on USCs campus. The third title defense for Charlo (25-0, 19 KOs) ended uncomfortably with the crowd loudly booing him after he refused to accept congratulations from Williams (22-1-1).Mares returned from a 16-month ring absence following two losses in his previous five fights, including the only stoppage defeat of his 12-year pro career. Neither Cuellar nor Mares had fought in 2016: They were scheduled to meet in June, but the fight was scrapped after the New York athletic commission refused to sanction it when Mares couldnt pass an eye examination.Mares has had eye issues during his career, but they didnt stop him from becoming a three-division champion with a solid following in the Los Angeles area, where the Mexican-born dual citizen grew up.The fight was the ninth major title bout of Mares career, and he showed his championship tenacity with a clever game plan that showcased his boxing skill. Mares fought more efficiently than Cuellar, landing 35 percent of hhis 619 punches and 41 percent of his power shots.ddddddddddddCuellar, the Argentine veteran trained by Freddie Roach, attacked Mares from the opening round, but the champions predictability allowed Mares to pick his shots while edging several early rounds. Cuellars superior power showed up later and turned the fight in his direction -- before Mares replied emphatically in the 11th.Mares battered Cuellar on the ropes moments after the knockdown. Cuellar recovered, but Mares persevered through a solid 12th to win it.Cuellar was a little flat, Roach said. Abner had a good strategy. He moved and he held, and it worked. Abner was the better man.Charlo is a Houston-based fighter whose twin brother, Jermell, also holds a 154-pound belt. On the biggest stage of his still-young career, Jermall Charlo followed up an impressive knockout with a bit of churlish behavior in the ring.Charlo first showed off his considerable skill, knocking down Williams with a precise left jab in the second round. Williams, a Philadelphia native in his first title fight, recovered from the knockdown and even staggered Charlo later in the round.Charlo kept working and eventually finished Williams, putting the challenger face-down on the canvas with an uppercut before finishing it moments later. But when Charlo declined to accept Williams walk across the ring to offer post-fight congratulations, the fighters camps exchanged harsh words and the Los Angeles crowd booed Charlo vociferously.No matter what, people have to respect my accomplishments, Charlo said through the boos. He just wasnt on my level. I told everyone what I was going to do since the fight was announced.Charlo might have tarnished his reputation, but his actions also undeniably raised his profile in the competitive 154-pound division. Charlo jumped on the ropes to egg on the crowd -- but he also apologized later, catching up with Williams backstage for a hug. ' ' '