SB Nation DC - Nationals Lose To The First-Place Braves 4-1https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-06-30T22:36:14-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13096822010-06-30T22:36:14-04:002010-06-30T22:36:14-04:00Road Woes Continue For The Nationals, Lose 4-1 To The Braves
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cwuch2iziZTZ9A5g5Qh4aedTvcY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828113/large_dc.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - <span>Jair Jurrjens</span> pitched into the sixth inning in his return to the rotation and singled in a run as the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/ATL">Braves</a> downed Washington, 4-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series.</p>
<p>Jurrjens (1-3), who was on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring, was charged with six hits and a run over five-plus frames. The right-hander also walked two batters and had six strikeouts in just his sixth start of the season.</p>
<p><span>Brian McCann</span> doubled in a run and <span>Martin Prado</span> continued his successful season with an RBI as the Braves posted their 18th victory in their last 21 home games.</p>
<p><span>J.D. Martin</span> (0-4) was charged with six hits and three runs over five innings as the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/WAS">Nationals</a> lost for the sixth time in seven games.</p>
<p>Prado, who is batting a National League-leading .333, doubled leading off the bottom of the first inning. McCann then doubled off the wall in left field to account for the first run of the night.</p>
<p>Washington wasted a leadoff double from <span>Adam Dunn</span> in the second and a one-out two-bagger from Martin in the third.</p>
<p>Atlanta tacked on two runs in the fourth. <span>Eric Hinske</span> and <span>Gregor Blanco</span> sandwiched singles around a pop-out from <span>Yunel Escobar</span>. Jurrjens then singled to left field for a two-run cushion, and Prado lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.</p>
<p>Jurrjens continued to evade trouble in the fifth. The Nationals loaded the bases with two outs, but <span>Roger Bernadina</span> grounded out.</p>
<p>Washington filled the bases again in the sixth, this time with nobody out. That signaled the exit for Jurrjens, who was replaced by <span>Peter Moylan</span>. <span>Ivan Rodriguez</span> grounded the reliever's first pitch into a 6-4-3 double play, scoring Washington's lone run. <span>Cristian Guzman</span> walked and went to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position, but <span>Alberto Gonzalez</span> fanned to end the inning.</p>
<p><span>Miguel Batista</span> walked Hinske with the bases loaded in the seventh to force in Atlanta's fourth run.</p>
<p><span>Billy Wagner</span> gave up a single to Rodriguez to start the ninth, but the lefty fanned the next three batters to pick up his 16th save of the year.</p>
<p>The Nationals next return to DC for a 10-game, 11-day homestand against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/NYM">Mets</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/SDP">Padres</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/SFG">Giants</a>...The Braves opened a roster spot for Jurrjens by optioning RHP Cristhian Martinez to Triple-A Gwinnett...Wagner picked up his 401st career save. It was 17th time Wagner has fanned the final three batters to end a game, setting a major league record, breaking a tie with <span>Trevor Hoffman</span>...The Nationals went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/30/1546374/road-woes-continue-for-theB.J. Pierson2010-06-30T15:56:42-04:002010-06-30T15:56:42-04:00Ian Desmond Not In Lineup For Second Straight Game
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cwuch2iziZTZ9A5g5Qh4aedTvcY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828113/large_dc.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Rookie shortstop Ian Desmond was off to a great start this season, but the promise has faded. After committing a key error (his 19th of the season) that cost Stephen Strasburg a chance at a win two nights ago, he was benched in favor of Alberto Gonzalez for last night's game.</p>
<p>The Nationals won, so apparently, the benching will continue in tonight's rubber match against the Braves, <a href="http://twitter.com/MarkZuckerman/status/17435650237">according</a> to Mark Zuckerman.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Alberto Gonzalez in <a rel="nofollow" title="#Nats" href="/search?q=%23Nats">#Nats</a>' lineup for 4th straight day. Ian Desmond not in lineup for 2nd straight day. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Tough break for the kid, but he's a rookie. He'll recover. I hope.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/30/1545669/ian-desmond-benched-nationals-braves-mlbMike Prada2010-06-30T15:45:25-04:002010-06-30T15:45:25-04:007:10 P.M. Nationals Can Take Series From Braves
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cwuch2iziZTZ9A5g5Qh4aedTvcY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828113/large_dc.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>(Sports Network) - The <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a> got a boost on Tuesday with a new addition to their rotation. The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Braves</a> hope for the same tonight when <span>Jair Jurrjens</span> comes off the disabled list to start the rubber match of a three-game series versus Washington at Turner Field.</p>
<p>Jurrjens hasn't started since April 29 due to a strained left hamstring. The 24-year-old went 14-10 with a 2.60 earned run average in 34 starts last year, but was just 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA in five starts prior to his injury. Jurrjens gave up four runs in six innings in his third and final rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett last Thursday.</p>
<p>"[Thursday's rehab start] was an improvement from the first two for sure," Jurrjens told Atlanta's website. "I feel ready to help this team out, and I'm just going to wait for the decision and hope I can be up here soon."</p>
<p>Manager Bobby Cox's decision is to go with Jurrjens tonight and shift <span>Kenshin Kawakami</span> to the bullpen rather than <span>Kris Medlen</span>, who originally replaced Jurrjens in the rotation. Kawakami earns the demotion after going 1-9 with a 4.48 ERA in 15 starts this year, with that first victory coming this past Saturday versus the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a>.</p>
<p>The right-handed Jurrjens, meanwhile, is 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven career starts versus the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a>.</p>
<p>Behind seven strong innings from <span>Tim Hudson</span>, the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a> took Monday's opener, 5-0, over the Nationals and phenom <span>Stephen Strasburg</span>, but <span>Derek Lowe</span> wasn't nearly as effective in last night's contest. The right-hander yielded four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 7-2 setback, National League East- leading Atlanta's fifth in eight games.</p>
<p>"I wasn't as sharp as I would have liked," Lowe said. "I got into a lot of deep counts. You have to give them credit."</p>
<p>Atlanta's loss was also only its third setback in its last 20 contests at home, where it hasn't lost a series since dropping two of three to Philadelphia on April 20-22.</p>
<p><span>Martin Prado</span> and <span>Gregor Blanco</span> both had two hits, while <span>Chipper Jones</span> went 0- for-4 to snap his hitting streak at 11 straight games.</p>
<p>Making his first start since June 6, <span>Craig Stammen</span> pitched 7 1/3 innings for Washington to win for the first time since April 19. His two-run, five-hit performance snapped the Nationals' five-game losing streak and was just their third victory in 14 games, as well as just their second in their last 14 road contests.</p>
<p>"I had some things I needed to prove and tonight was a good night for me," Stammen said. "I had some good games when I went down to Triple-A so my confidence was pretty good. It was just a matter of executing and for the most part I did that tonight."</p>
<p><span>Alberto Gonzalez</span> went 4-for-4 with an RBI and <span>Josh Willingham</span> belted a two-run homer for the Nationals, who have won seven of their last nine versus the Braves, including three of five this season.</p>
<p>Washington starter <span>J.D. Martin</span> seeks his first victory of the season as he is 0-3 with a 3.03 ERA in five starts since joining the rotation on May 29. He got a no-decision on Friday versus the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orioles</a>, allowing three unearned runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings after losing back-to-back starts.</p>
<p>The right-hander, who went 5-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 15 starts a season ago, faced the Braves for the first and only other time on Oct. 4, with the 27- year-old yielding a run on six hits over six innings of a no-decision.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/30/2317260/7-10-p-m-nationals-can-take-series-from-bravesJordan Ruby