Final
Braves down Nationals
Apr 14, 2013 - 12:26 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Evan Gattis slugged a two-run homer and Tim Hudson pitched seven strong innings, as the Atlanta Braves continued their torrid start with a 3-1 win over the Washington Nationals.Hudson (2-0) limited the Nationals to a run on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks to win his second straight start. He also had two of Atlanta's eight hits and improved to 15-5 lifetime against the Nationals.
"We're just fortunate to get off to a good start and not get behind an 8-ball too much," Hudson said. "Hopefully we just keep it up."
Ramiro Pena, who belted a go-ahead homer in the 10th inning of Friday's win, also stroked a pair of hits in the victory. Atlanta has won eight straight and the 10-1 start is the best for the Braves since the 1994 squad opened 13-1.
Danny Espinosa homered for Washington's lone run and Stephen Strasburg (1-2) took a hard-luck loss. The ace right-hander was charged with two unearned runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings.
The Braves had a runner cut down in the second inning when Bryce Harper threw out Dan Uggla trying to score from second on a single by Hudson, but picked up a pair of unearned runs in the third. Justin Upton reached on a two-out error by Ryan Zimmerman and Gattis followed with a drive over the left-center field wall for his fourth home run.
"The previous at-bat I was up there missing a little bit," Strasburg said. "I decided to try and go fastball away. I did it again and ran in one."
Washington was unable to convert leadoff singles in each of the first two innings, as Jayson Werth lined into a double play in the first and Adam LaRoche bounced into a twin-killing in the second.
The Nationals finally answered with a run in the fifth on Espinosa's two-out blast into the right field seats.
Hudson, though, retired the last seven batters he faced and Eric O'Flaherty worked a perfect eighth.
The Braves added a run in the ninth when Jason Heyward beat the relay on a potential double-play grounder with the bases loaded and Craig Kimbrel set down the Nats in order in the ninth to earn his sixth save.
Game Notes
Atlanta's B.J. Upton ended an 0-for-18 slump with a bloop single in the ninth inning ... Hudson has now won each of his three matchups with Strasburg ... Harper was 0-for-3 and failed to pick up a hit for just the second time in 11 games this season ... The Braves are 5-0 on a six-game road trip that ends Sunday ... The series finale will feature Paul Maholm for Atlanta against Washington lefty Gio Gonzalez.
- ATLANTA: 3
WASHINGTON: 1
Final
Apr 13 3:52 PM - Jason Heyward fielder's choice scored Chris Johnson with two out. B.J. Upton out at second. Ramiro Pena advances to third. Runners on first and third with Justin Upton due up.
Braves 3, Nationals 1 Top 9, 2 OutsApr 13 3:43 PM - Danny Espinosa two-out, solo Home Run (1) to right. Wilson Ramos due up.
Braves 2, Nationals 1 Bot 5, 2 OutsApr 13 2:38 PM - Evan Gattis two-out, two-run Home Run (4) to left scored Justin Upton. Dan Uggla due up.
Braves 2, Nationals 0 Top 3, 2 OutsApr 13 1:54 PM - ATLANTA: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 13 1:10 PM
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