The Nationals have avoided a series sweep in Washington to the visiting Atlanta Braves with a 2-1 win in game three of the Nationals home opener. In game one, the Braves took it 2-1, then in game two they lowered the price down at Papa John's (that are located in Georgia) for a day by scoring six runs in a 6-2 win.
The Braves also won a close game in the opener of the series. They drastically benefited when what looked like to be an inside-the-park homerun belted by Ian Desmond was ruled a double. Although the officiating crew eventually got the call right, they did have to go watch the reply to make the ruling
"These umpires, they're good enough," Upton said. "But sometimes they need a little bit of help."
In game two of the three game series, the Braves routed the Nationals (with Strasburg pitching) 6-2.
"You never want to give Strasburg too much of a cushion," said Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, whose two-run single in the fifth provided a 4-2 lead. "But Julio, he didn't have his best stuff tonight but he battled and competed. That's what we expect out of him every time. We had all the confidence in the world that he was going to hold them right there, and he did."
Tomorrow is an off-day for the Braves...Then they will host their home opener in a three-game matchup against the New York Mets. They will also play six more series against the Nationals/
"Last year is last year. You get a nice pat on the back and it's over with," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We play them six series. Every series is important. It doesn't matter if you play them in April of September."
[Box Score]
Batters:
Jason Heyward, RF (0-5, 2 K, .130 AVG)
B.J. Upton, CF (0-4, .120 AVG)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (1-4, 1 R, .421 AVG)
Chris Johnson, 3B (1-3, 1 BB, .304 AVG)
Justin Upton, LF (1-3, 1 BB, 2 K, .182 AVG)
Dan Uggla, 2B (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K, .217 AVG)
Gerald Laird, C (1-4, 1 K, .286 AVG)
Andrelton Simmons, SS (2-4, .300 AVG)
Alex Wood, SP (0-2, 1 K, .000 AVG)
Ryan Doumit, PH (1-1, .250 AVG)
Pitchers:
Alex Wood, SP (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, .193 ERA)
Gus Schlosser, RP (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 2.70 ERA)
Luis Avilan, RP (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA)
The Braves also won a close game in the opener of the series. They drastically benefited when what looked like to be an inside-the-park homerun belted by Ian Desmond was ruled a double. Although the officiating crew eventually got the call right, they did have to go watch the reply to make the ruling
"These umpires, they're good enough," Upton said. "But sometimes they need a little bit of help."
In game two of the three game series, the Braves routed the Nationals (with Strasburg pitching) 6-2.
"You never want to give Strasburg too much of a cushion," said Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, whose two-run single in the fifth provided a 4-2 lead. "But Julio, he didn't have his best stuff tonight but he battled and competed. That's what we expect out of him every time. We had all the confidence in the world that he was going to hold them right there, and he did."
Tomorrow is an off-day for the Braves...Then they will host their home opener in a three-game matchup against the New York Mets. They will also play six more series against the Nationals/
"Last year is last year. You get a nice pat on the back and it's over with," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We play them six series. Every series is important. It doesn't matter if you play them in April of September."
[Box Score]
Batters:
Jason Heyward, RF (0-5, 2 K, .130 AVG)
B.J. Upton, CF (0-4, .120 AVG)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (1-4, 1 R, .421 AVG)
Chris Johnson, 3B (1-3, 1 BB, .304 AVG)
Justin Upton, LF (1-3, 1 BB, 2 K, .182 AVG)
Dan Uggla, 2B (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K, .217 AVG)
Gerald Laird, C (1-4, 1 K, .286 AVG)
Andrelton Simmons, SS (2-4, .300 AVG)
Alex Wood, SP (0-2, 1 K, .000 AVG)
Ryan Doumit, PH (1-1, .250 AVG)
Pitchers:
Alex Wood, SP (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, .193 ERA)
Gus Schlosser, RP (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 2.70 ERA)
Luis Avilan, RP (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA)