Nationals 7 - 3 Braves
Final/11
  for this game

Nats rally past Braves in extras

May 12, 2011 - 3:13 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Ian Desmond hit a two-run double in the 11th inning and Jayson Werth tacked on a two-run homer as Washington came back for a 7-3 win over Atlanta in the middle test of a three-game series.

The Nationals rallied in the ninth off closer Craig Kimbrel, tying the game on Alex Cora's pinch-hit, two-run single. They won it in the 11th against Scott Linebrink (0-1).

Laynce Nix had three hits, including an RBI single in the second inning, for the Nationals, winners in four of their last five games.

Brian McCann doubled in two runs in the opening inning and Eric Hinske belted a lead-off homer in the seventh frame for Atlanta, which lost for the third time in four tries after a six-game winning streak.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson allowed five hits and a run over 5 2/3 innings, while Washington's John Lannan gave up five hits and a pair of runs in six frames.

Washington took the opener of this series, 7-6, Tuesday and rallied to force extra innings by plating two in the ninth off Kimbrel. Nix and Jerry Hairston Jr. singled, leaving runners on first and second with one out. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs walked on four pitchers.

Cora, pinch-hitting for reliever Todd Coffey, then hit a grounder up the middle. The ball caromed off second base and bounded into center field, tying the game and sending runners to second and third. Kimbrel came back to strike out Desmond and Werth to keep the game tied.

Washington put a runner in scoring position in the 10th, but Scott Linebrink fanned Danny Espinosa to end the threat.

With one out in the 11th, pinch-hitter Ivan Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Then on a hit-and-run play, Cora singled to right to put men at the corners. Desmond doubled over the third base bag for a 5-3 lead and proceeded to steal third. Werth followed with a blast over the wall in left-center.

Drew Storen (3-1) got the victory

McCann's double off the wall in right scored Martin Prado and Chipper Jones in the opening inning.

Wilson Ramos doubled leading off the second and came home on Nix's base hit to right.

Hinske homered to right off Doug Slaten on the third pitch of the bottom of the seventh.

Game Notes

Braves right fielder Jason Heyward is scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday to determine the extent of his right shoulder injury. Heyward was taken out in the eighth inning of Tuesday's defeat, complaining of numbness in his right hand...McCann has an 11-game hitting streak...The Nationals are 5-1 in extra- inning games, while the Braves fall to 1-4...Jones has 505 doubles, moving him into third place all-time among switch hitters, breaking a tie with Roberto Alomar and behind only Eddie Murray (560) and Pete Rose (746)...Atlanta went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.






Related News