The Washington Nationals bullpen made it a closer affair than it should have been, but the Nats were able to leave Turner Field Tuesday night as 7-6 winners over the Atlanta Braves.
Though the Braves had more hits during the game, it was the Nats that capitalized more on the ones they did get. Both outfielders Laynce Nix and Jayson Werth hit three-run home runs to lead bursts of Nationals offense. Pitcher Jason Marquis used this backing to hold off the Braves for seven-innings of seven hit, three-run ball. However, when the Nationals bullpen moved onto the mound some trouble mounted.
Reliever Sean Burnett gave up two runs after relieving Marquis in the eighth-inning and Tyler gave up one more after a solo home run from Dan Uggla. After the Nationals offense failed to score any runs in the top of the ninth the game belonged to Nationals reliever Drew Storen. Storen was able to get three-up and three-down to preserve the Nationals win and earn his eighth save of the season.
The Nats are in fourth place in the NL East with a 17-18 record.