Braves 6 - 4 Nationals
Final/10
  for this game

Braves rally in ninth, beat Nats in 10th on Pena's homer

Apr 13, 2013 - 4:46 AM

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Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ramiro Pena helped spark a rally in the ninth and then delivered the knockout punch in the 10th by clubbing a two-run homer, capping an Atlanta Braves' 6-4 comeback win over the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game set.

Pena, whose pinch-hit bunt single in the ninth helped lay the foundation for a two-run inning against Washington reliever Drew Storen, crushed a Craig Stammen (2-1) fastball into the right-field seats an inning later to give the Braves their seventh straight win.

Eric O'Flaherty (2-0) tossed a perfect ninth and Craig Kimbrel locked it down in the 10th to notch his fifth save of the young season.

"We're having fun out there," Braves infielder Chris Johnson said. "We know the game's not over until we're back in the clubhouse."

Ross Detwiler put in another strong start for Washington, but once again didn't factor into the decision despite leaving with a 4-1 lead. He struck out five and scattered four hits over seven innings.

"To have your starter do what he did and not get the win for him is very disappointing," Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard said.

Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer and Denard Span and Jayson Werth each had an RBI in the Nationals' first home setback of the season.

Justin Upton, who went 3-for-5, came up with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth with the Braves trailing 4-2. He hit a hard ground ball deep into the hole at third to Ryan Zimmerman, who tried to get the force out at second, but he threw the ball out of the second baseman's reach and into right field.

Johnson, who had hit a solo homer in the seventh, and Pena both scored on the play to tie the game at 4-4.

The Nationals quickly got on the board with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings, but were held scoreless on two hits the rest of the way.

In the first, Span singled and, two batters later, Harper hit a homer that just cleared the left-field wall.

Span came to bat again in the second and delivered a bloop single into left field to score Kurt Suzuki. He then came around to score on a base hit from Werth to put the Nationals ahead 4-0.

From there, Braves starter Julio Teheran settled down. He lasted six innings and struck out six. He was charged with four runs on six hits.

Atlanta finally got on the board in the seventh on Johnson's home run and threatened the following inning when they loaded the bases for B.J. Upton, who drew a walk to force a run in. Dan Uggla, however, flew out to deep center to end the inning.

Game Notes

Zimmerman played in his 1,000th career game ... Atlanta is 4-0 on the road this season ... The Braves were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base ... Washington's Stephen Strasburg will counter Atlanta's Tim Hudson on the mound on Saturday.






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