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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 Shoes .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Wholesale Shoes . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. http://www.shoeschinacheap.com/ . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Cheap Shoes China . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament.Aitor Karanka will not take charge of Middlesbroughs match at Charlton on Sunday after his furious bust-up with the team. Assistant manager Steve Agnew will be in charge for the match at the Valley, which is live on Sky Sports 1.Sky sources understand that Middlesbrough boss Karanka, who did not take training on Saturday, stormed out of the clubs Rockcliffe Training Ground on Friday after telling his players that he no longer wanted to be their manager. In a heated exchange, the 42-year-old questioned the teams desire to reach the Premier League following a 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Rotherham on Tuesday.The defeat - their fourth in 10 games - left them four points behind Championship leaders Burnley with 11 games to play. The bust-up occurred in the aftermath of this 1-0 defeat to Rotherham It is understood this is not the first time Karanka has had a bust-up with his players this season, having already clashed with wingers Albert Adomah and Stewart Downing.ddddddddddddHis two-and-a-half year tenure at the club, which included going desperately close to promotion to the Premier League last season, is now thought to be in real jeopardy.Assistant Agnew is the uncle of newly-signed striker Jordan Rhodes, who joined from Blackburn in January but has made just four starts. Middlesbrough are four points behind Championship leaders Burnley A Boro statement on Saturday confirmed: Aitor did not take training on Saturday morning. Steve Agnew will take charge of the team for Sundays fixture at Charlton.We appreciate supporters will want to know further details, but at this time the club cannot make any further comment and is solely focused on Sundays game at the Valley. Also See: Karanka in player bust-up Sky Live: Charlton v Boro Boro stats Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free ' ' '