Final
Braves hit the road to battle Nationals
May 8, 2015 - 2:56 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Braves are on the road for the next nine games and will begin a three-game series Friday against the NL East-rival Washington Nationals.The Braves went 5-5 on their recent homestand and won two of three meetings with the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. In Wednesday's 7-5 victory over the division-rival Phillies, Andrelton Simmons went 3-for-4 with a home runs and three runs scored to power the offense.
Freddie Freeman also had three hits to go along with three RBI for the Braves, who scored 18 runs in the series and have plated four or more runs 10 times in the last 12 games.
Mike Foltynewicz picked up the win and gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. He fanned seven and walked three batters.
"He's definitely got the fastball," Braves outfielder Kelly Johnson said. "If he continues to throw strikes like he did tonight, he's going to be pretty good for us."
Jason Grilli earned his ninth save.
Eric Stults gets the nod for Atlanta and he is 1-2 with a 4.91 earned run average in five starts. The first-year Brave lost his last outing on Saturday versus Cincinnati and permitted six runs and 11 hits in seven innings of an 8-4 defeat.
The left-hander defeated Washington on April 27 and tossed 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball in an 8-4 victory. Stults, who will make his second road start of the season, is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals.
Atlanta will also visit Cincinnati and Miami on the trip.
The Nationals have won seven of their last nine games after a six-game slide and won two of three contests against the Marlins.
Washington posted a series win with Wednesday's 7-5 victory and Max Scherzer struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work. Scherzer, though, gave up five runs and 10 hits.
Bryce Harper crushed three home runs and drove in five runs for the Nationals.
"Good day for Harp," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He was short and compact. He's seeing the ball well. He got some pitches to hit today."
Gio Gonzalez draws the start for Washington Friday and is 2-2 with a 3.86 earned run average in five starts. Gonzalez tossed seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the New York Mets on Saturday and struck out nine batters.
Gonzalez has struggled in his career against the Braves and is only 2-8 with a 5.20 ERA in 11 starts.
Washington won two of three meetings in Atlanta from April 27-29.
- ATLANTA: 2
WASHINGTON: 9
Final
May 8 9:27 PM - Espinosa homered to left on a 1-0 count, W.Ramos scored.
Braves 2, Nationals 9 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 8 9:19 PM - Danny Espinosa homers to left field. Wilson Ramos scores.
Braves 2, Nationals 9 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 8 9:19 PM - Harper homered to right on a 0-0 count, Y.Escobar scored, Werth scored.
Braves 2, Nationals 7 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 8 9:16 PM - Bryce Harper homers to right field. Jayson Werth scores. Yunel Escobar scores.
Braves 2, Nationals 7 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 8 9:08 PM - Harper homered to center on a 1-2 count, Y.Escobar scored.
Braves 2, Nationals 3 Bot 6, 1 OutMay 8 8:33 PM - Bryce Harper homers to center field. Yunel Escobar scores.
Braves 2, Nationals 3 Bot 6, 1 OutMay 8 8:33 PM - Freddie Freeman doubles to right center field. Andrelton Simmons scores.
Braves 2, Nationals 0 Top 3, 2 OutsMay 8 7:45 PM - J.Gomes hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Span, Simmons scored.
Braves 1, Nationals 0 Top 1, 2 OutsMay 8 7:10 PM - Jonny Gomes out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Denard Span. Andrelton Simmons scores.
Braves 1, Nationals 0 Top 1, 1 OutMay 8 7:10 PM - Nick Markakis grounds out to second base, Danny Espinosa to Ryan Zimmerman.
May 8 7:06 PM - ATLANTA: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 8 7:06 PM
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