Smoltz records 3,000th strikeout in Braves' loss

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz tips his cap to the crowd, after becoming the 16th player in major league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts, after striking out Washington Nationals Felipe Lopez in the third inning at Turner Field at their National League baseball game in Atlanta, Georgia, April 22, 2008. (REUTERS/Tami Chappell)

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Washington Nationals' lefthander John Lannan overshadowed John Smoltz becoming the 16th pitcher to record 3,000 career strikeouts, to help his side beat the Atlanta Braves 6-0 on Tuesday.

Smoltz struck out 10 batters for the second successive game, and his third inning strikeout of Felipe Lopez was the 3,000th of his career.

Atlanta, however, could muster just five hits off Lannan and their bullpen gave up five runs in the top of the ninth inning to snap the Braves' five-game winning streak.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox told reporters his team could not have asked for any more from the veteran pitcher.

"A tremendous performance by Smoltz," Cox said. "He's not going to throw the ball any better than that.

"Pitch like that, you should win. But the kid (Lannan) pitched good. He kept the ball down all night long."

The 40-year-old Smoltz won his first three decisions of the season and has an ERA of 0.78.

He did not walk a batter and allowed just one run on a second inning double by Willie Harris, and five hits.

Lannan (1-2) matched him over seven innings, also allowing just five hits, with four strikeouts and three walks for his third career victory.

Both starters left the game after seven innings with Washington leading 1-0, before the Nationals' ninth-inning run burst gave them the victory.

"Very disappointing," Braves catcher Brian McCann said. "It was a special day and we did not do our part."

Ryan Zimmerman had a two-run double in the ninth and both Lopez and Harris had two hits and an RBI for Washington.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)