The last time it happened in the Major Leagues was on Sept. 1, 1999, when catcher Ben Petrick and right-hander Luther Hackman started for the Rockies.

Martis pitched decently, while Montz went hitless in a 2-0 loss to Atlanta at Turner Field. It marked the 21st time Washington was blanked in a game this season.

Nationals manager Manny Acta went with this battery because Martis and Montz have worked well together in the Minor Leagues, dating back to 2006 when they played for Class A Potomac.

Before the game, Martis and Montz were playing catch and Montz admitted to his friend that he was nervous. But Martis compared this experience to the times he played in Winter Ball, the World Baseball Classic and the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"I think he was calmer than I was, to tell you the truth," Montz said. "I had a butterfly in me. He was ready to go and he looked at me and said, 'This was what the Olympics was all about, this is what the big Winter Ball games were all about.'

"You couldn't get down. I was having a lot of fun. I really tried to control myself, but I was really too excited. It was fun to be out there. The Braves' lineup was congratulating me. It was awesome."

Martis managed to get the butterfly out of his system after he struck out Gregor Blanco to start the bottom of the first inning. Martis didn't know the significance of getting the first out of his career until pitching coach Randy St. Claire told him to throw the ball into the dugout.

Martis didn't pitch badly overall, but he ended up with a loss. The rookie lasted five innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He struck out two batters and walked five others.

"Today, I think I did pretty well. I threw five innings," Martis said. "I was really excited. I had some butterflies in the first inning. After that, I had more confidence. Having Luke was very good, because we have been together for three years. We know each other pretty well."

The first run was scored in the bottom of the third inning. Kelly Johnson led off the inning with a triple over the head of center fielder Lastings Milledge. It looked like Milledge had a chance to catch the ball, but he gave up on it too soon and the ball rolled passed him after it hit the wall.

After Chipper Jones walked to put runners on first and third, Brian McCann hit a sacrifice fly to score Johnson. In the fifth inning, Casey Kotchman scored on a fielder's choice hit by Blanco.

"I think Martis did well other than in the fifth inning when he issued all those walks to the bottom part of the lineup," Acta said. "But he showed some poise out there -- working himself out of it. He battled and came out of it better than a lot people anticipated.

What Martis and Montz learned today was that the strike zone is different from what they saw in the Minor Leagues.

"The strike zone is going to be a little bit tighter. That was the biggest adjustment for us," Montz said. "I think he battled tonight. He kind of missed with a few fastballs."

As for Montz, he went 0-for-3 in the game, lining out to left fielder Brandon Jones in the third inning and hitting a fly ball to left field two innings later off right-hander James Parr. In the eighth, Montz grounded out against Julian Tavarez.

"I didn't try to do too much the whole night. I really tried to see the ball and hit," Montz said. "My third at-bat was probably the toughest. I was ahead, 3-0. Tavarez has a huge sinker. It just came under my hands. I felt fine in the batter's box. I felt really good."

Parr also made his Major League debut and fared much better, pitching six shutout innings and picking up his first victory. No Nationals runner reached third base in the game. Ronnie Belliard had Washington's only two hits off Parr, but as he ran out an infield single in the seventh, he suffered a right groin strain and was forced from the game.

"I think our approach didn't help," Acta said. "We were very impatient with Parr. That usually happens when he is unknown to everyone in here. I'm sure that Martis had the same effect over there. That's what happens in September. I thought we chased too many pitches in the zone. We kind of helped him out."

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.