At the beginning of the 2011 season there was a lot of positive momentum going for the Washington Nationals. Now, as the season begins to near its end, that momentum seems to have left the team and with it any offensive punch. The Atlanta Braves beat the Nats for the second night in a row by the final score of 5-2.
Starter Chien-Ming Wang failed to put together a performance that might give the offense charge or purpose. The Taiwanese pitcher lasted only 5.2 innings giving up four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out zero. The Nats bullpen fared better, but 2011 All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard continues to show some shakiness recently in his game as tonight he allowed the fifth and final Braves run in the eighth inning.
The Nationals offense continues to be the anchor tied to the team's feet that sinks their chances into the abyss. The only scoring was done by center fielder Jayson Werth who delivered a solo home run off pitcher Tim Hudson in the sixth. Then in the eighth Jonny Gomes scored on a gift fielding error by Atlanta's Chipper Jones. Werth finished the night 2-for-2 with a RBI and two walks, Gomes was 1-for-2 and catcher Wilson Ramos was 2-for-4. But the Nationals continue to not be able to string hits together, bring in men on base and be a general threat to opposing pitchers.