SB Nation DC - Nationals Defeat Braves 6-2 In Final Game Of Three-Game Sethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-08-20T09:03:20-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13956882010-08-20T09:03:20-04:002010-08-20T09:03:20-04:00Nationals Beat Braves 6-2 To Avoid Series Sweep
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<p>Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) – Mike Morse and Willie Harris each homered, as the Washington Nationals took down the Atlanta Braves, 6-2, to avoid a three- game sweep at Turner Field.</p>
<p>Ryan Zimmerman, Roger Bernadina, and Ian Desmond each had an <span class="caps">RBI</span> for the Nationals, who had lost eight of 10 coming into Thursday’s game.</p>
<p>John Lannan (5-5) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits to win his third straight start. The left-hander also struck out five and walked one.</p>
<p>“It’s always good to win the last game,” Harris said. “Obviously, you want to win the series.”</p>
<p>Matt Diaz hit a two-run double for the Braves, who had a four-game win streak snapped.</p>
<p>Derek Lowe (11-11) went seven frames in the start, giving up four runs on six hits to suffer the loss. The right-hander also fanned six batters and walked zero.</p>
<p>The Braves maintained their 2 1/2 game lead over Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. Philadelphia lost to San Francisco on Thursday.</p>
<p>Morse’s solo blast to left in the second put the Nationals on the board.</p>
<p>Washington added another run in the third to make it 2-0. Nyjer Morgan hit a two-out single, stole second, and crossed the plate on Desmond’s base hit up the middle.</p>
<p>The Nationals plated two more runs in the top of the sixth. Morgan singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Bernadina’s double. Zimmerman followed with an <span class="caps">RBI</span> single to extend Washington’s lead to 4-0.</p>
<p>Atlanta finally got to Lannan in the home sixth. Omar Infante and Jason Heyward started the inning with consecutive singles to put men on the corners. After Martin Prado struck out, Diaz hit a two-run double down the right- field line. Brian McCann then walked, chasing Lannan from the game. Joel Peralta took over and got Alex Gonzalez to foul out to first. Diaz, who was on his way to third on the play, was thrown out at second to end the frame, but not before Atlanta made it 4-2.</p>
<p>Tyler Clippard, who struck out the side in the seventh, stayed on to pitch the eighth for the Nats. Infante and Heyward got the inning started with back-to- back walks. Prado put down a bunt that catcher Wilson Ramos picked up and threw to third for the force out. The runners moved up to second and third on Diaz’s fly out. Sean Burnett came in from the bullpen and got McCann to line out to keep Washington in front.</p>
<p>Harris hit a two-run homer off Kyle Farnsworth in the top of the ninth to give the Nats a 6-2 margin.</p>
<p>Drew Storen pitched a perfect home ninth to seal the victory.</p>
<p>“It’s not deflating. We’re the same team we’ve been all year. A loss is a loss. They played us tough in each game of the series,” Heyward said.</p>
<p>Atlanta and Washington have split 12 games this season…The Nationals placed outfielder Josh Willingham on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday and activated outfielder Morgan, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored…The Nats avoided their seventh sweep of the year…Atlanta finished a seven-game homestand with a 5-2 record…The Braves were without newly-acquired first baseman Derrek Lee (back)…Lannan improved to 4-4 lifetime against Atlanta…Lowe fell to 6-7 in 21 career games (15 starts) against the Nationals.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/8/20/1633152/nationals-win-braves-mlb-score-recap-2010Mike Prada2010-08-19T12:28:15-04:002010-08-19T12:28:15-04:00Nationals Look To Avoid Sweep In Day Game Against Braves
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<p>(Sports Network) - The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> won't have newly-acquired first baseman <span>Derrek Lee</span> in the lineup this afternoon, but will still try to complete a three-game sweep of the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> at Turner Field.</p>
<p>Lee, who was hitting .251 with 16 homers and 56 runs batted in for the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a>, was acquired by the Braves on Wednesday for three pitching prospects. However, he has been battling back problems of late and had to waive his no- trade clause for the deal to go through.</p>
<p>"It just felt right," said Lee, who had turned down a deal that would have sent him to Anaheim earlier in the year. "The main thing, though, is that we have six weeks to go. Atlanta is in first place. They're playing great baseball. The chance to go to the postseason -- it's hard to pass up."</p>
<p>The Braves did not need Lee on Wednesday, as <span>Jason Heyward</span>'s line drive base hit up the middle plated <span>Rick Ankiel</span> with the game-winning run in the ninth, giving Atlanta a dramatic 3-2 victory.</p>
<p>In Atlanta's final at-bat, Ankiel posted a one-out single off <span>Sean Burnett</span> (0-7) and moved to second when <span>Tyler Clippard</span> walked <span>David Ross</span>. Clippard struck out <span>Omar Infante</span> for the second out but fell behind 3-0 to Heyward, who had the green light and ripped a single past a diving <span>Ian Desmond</span> at short to secure the Braves' 21st victory in their final at-bat.</p>
<p>"I was really surprised [Heyward swung at a 3-0 pitch]," Clippard said. "But then again you have to tip your cap because he got a base hit."</p>
<p><span>Billy Wagner</span> (7-2) struck out the side in the top of the ninth to get credit for the win, the club's seventh in eight games to remain 2 1/2 games ahead of the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> atop the NL East Division.</p>
<p>Neither starter factored in the decision despite each allowing only two runs in seven innings of work. Atlanta's<span>Tim Hudson</span>, attempting to win a sixth straight start, gave up eight hits and two walks, while <span>Livan Hernandez</span>scattered nine hits and a pair of bases on balls for Washington.</p>
<p>"Hudson had another great night," Heyward said. "We did a great job of finding a way to get a couple of runs to tie it up...and we figured out a way to get another run across."</p>
<p>Heading to the hill for the Braves today will be veteran <span>Derek Lowe</span>, who is 11-10 on the year with a 4.29 ERA. Lowe lost for the second time in his last three decisions on Saturday against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, despite a solid effort that saw him surrender a run and 10 hits in six innings.</p>
<p>Lowe lost to the Nats the last time he faced them and is 6-6 lifetime against them with a 4.04 ERA in 20 games, 14 of which were starts.</p>
<p>Washington, meanwhile, will be trying to avoid the sweep with righty <span>John Lannan</span> on the hill seeking his third straight win since a minor league stint. Lannan beat the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> on Friday, holding them to a pair of runs and four hits in seven innings, upping his season mark to 4-5, while lowering his ERA to 5.23.</p>
<p>Lannan has faced the Braves eight times and is 3-4 against them with a 3.44 ERA.</p>
<p>Atlanta has won six of its 11 meetings with the Nats this season.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/8/19/2319576/nationals-look-to-avoid-sweep-in-day-game-against-bravesMike Prada