Pirate Galaxy » went 1 for 4. ... Braves OF Mallex Smith was rein

Lionel Messi says Barcelona continue to believe in themselves despite a run of three games without a victory. Barcelona face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday, holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg.Recent defeats to to Real Sociedad and Real Madrid have cut Barcelonas lead at the top of La Liga to just three points ahead of second-placed Atletico but despite the scrutiny, Messi has backed his team-mates to emrge from their mini-slump. Our mentality is still the same, Messi said via his Facebook account.We work all season to give ourselves the best chance of reaching the final and winning titles. We continue to believe in ourselves. Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has played down the importance of the match Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has made light of the importance of the match, insisting that every game from now until the end of the season is equally important.Its an advantageous result, but the tie is open, he said in the pre-match press conference.I dont feel like this is the biggest game of the season. Its just as important as any other game and we wont speculate as to what the result will be. We will just try to play better than our opponents. Barcelonas Javier Mascherano is confident ahead of the Atletico Madrid game Barcelona remain on course to finish the season with five trophies and Javier Mascherano believes they need to stay fully focused on all fronts. We chose to go for all titles, Mascherano said. We are the league leaders although the gap has been narrowed. We know that we have a chance to win them all, and must get through our remaining games. Atletico Madrids Diego Simeone says his team enjoys being the underdogs Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said his side will benefit from being the underdogs despite holding home advantage.Barcelonas players wont be affected by the atmosphere at the Vincente Calderon, he said.Theyre used to it. It will be intense and physical. They will play their normal game, but our strength is knowing they are better than us.Follow Atletico Madrid v Barcelona with our live blog tonight on skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps. Also See: A Madrid v Barcelona preview Why have Barca stumbled? Neymars ￡153m buyout clause Charlies European predictions Charlie Garner Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Tevin Coleman Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. 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ATLANTA -- Trea Turner homered, had four hits and scored four runs, Max Scherzer won his fifth straight decision and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Friday night.Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon each added two RBI.The Nationals, seeking their third NL East title in five years, have won 13 of 17. Their magic number to clinch the division is six with 15 games remaining.Scherzer (17-7) gave up seven hits, two runs, two walks and struck out eight in seven innings. The Washington ace is 12-3 with a 2.10 ERA in his last 20 starts.John Gant (1-4) allowed six hits, five runs and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. Appearing in his 16th game with seven starts, Gant had his ERA rise 84 points to 5.24.The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Rendons two-run single and went up 5-0 in the second on Turners ninth homer and Murphys RBI double.Atlanta made it 5-1 in the bottom of the second on Tyler Flowers RBI single. Flowers cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.Turner stole second and third in the seventh and scored on Murphys sacrifice fly. Turners 26th stolen base dropped Flowers, the Atlanta catcher, to 1 for 56 this season on caught stealing attempts.Turner added a ground-rule double and score in the ninth on Jayson Werths single.Murphy has 46 doubles, most in the majors. His 104 RBI rank second in the NL.Blake Treinen pitched the eighth and Shawn Kelley the ninth for the Nationals.Washington improved to 15-2 against the NL-worst Braves this year and 36-11 in the series since June 21, 2014.BAKER IS BACKWashington manager Dusty Baker returned after a one-game absence due a death in his family. He arrived at Turner Field about three hours before the game.PROUD PARENTSInterim manager Brian Snitker told 1B Freddie Freeman to stay home and rest after his wiife, Chelsea, gave birth to their first child, a son, on Thursday.dddddddddddd Freeman is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday. Rookie Blake Lalli took his place and went 0 for 4. ... Nationals SS Danny Espinosa wasnt in the lineup after his wife, Sara, gave birth to a boy in California. Espinosa arrived during the fifth inning. Stephen Drew took his place and went 1 for 3 with one run scored.ON APPEALBraves RHP Jose Ramirez filed an appeal after receiving a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for throwing a pitch near the head of Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez on Wednesday. Both teams benches emptied, but the situation settled down after players from both teams crowded around Fernandez, Ramirez and Flowers. Ramirez was ejected from the game.TRAINERS ROOMBraves 2B Jace Peterson was scratched from the lineup with a left ankle sprain. Gordon Beckham took his place and went 1 for 4. ... Braves OF Mallex Smith was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list after missing 76 games with a broken left thumb. Smith had a pinch-hit single in the seventh. ... Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz is walking without much discomfort and could make a start next week. He was injured last Monday when a liner bounced off his calf.CENTRAL FLORIDA-BOUNDThe Braves are moving their high Single-A affiliate from Zebulon, North Carolina to Kissimmee, Florida before the start of next season.UP NEXTNationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-9) will make his 30th start. Hes 4-8 with a 4.70 ERA in 16 career starts against Atlanta.Braves: Snitker has yet to announce Saturdays starter. RHP Josh Collmenter, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, is a possibility. ' ' '