Braves 6 - 4 Nationals
Final/13
  for this game

Braves top Nats in 13 innings

Jun 21, 2014 - 6:57 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Evan Gattis singled home the winning run in the 13th inning to help the Atlanta Braves to a 6-4 win over the Washington Nationals in the second of a four-game set.

Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons each drove in a pair, while Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run and scored three times for the Braves, who have taken the first two games of this set after dropping six of eight.

"We just want to get back on the right track," Freeman said.

The win pushes Atlanta a half-game ahead of Washington for first place in the NL East.

Anthony Rendon hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the ninth inning, while Ian Desmond hit a solo home run and Denard Span added two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who have lost six of their last eight games.

Mike Minor pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on seven hits and a season-high 11 strikeouts for Atlanta, while Stephen Strasburg allowed four runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

After Ryan Buchter (1-0) pitched around a one-out walk in the 12th, his pro debut, B.J. Upton walked off Jerry Blevins (2-3) to start the 13th. Freeman followed with a single and Gattis drove in Upton with a single. Later in the frame, Simmons beat out a double-play ball to plate Freeman for a 6-4 lead.

Jordan Walden retired Washington in order in the home half for his second save of the season.

Freeman hit a two-out solo homer in the first to get Atlanta on the board, but Desmond countered with a two-out shot of his own in the second to tie the game.

In the fourth, Atlanta went back on top as three straight singles from Heyward, Chris Johnson and Simmons produced a run.

The fifth inning saw the Braves pad their lead, as Freeman singled with one out, Gattis followed with a single, and Heyward chased them both home with a double to right for a 4-1 lead.

Washington cut into its deficit in the seventh on an RBI triple from Span. Danny Espinosa singled to start and moved to second on a passed ball. The next two batters recorded outs, but Span punched a triple to right for a 4-2 game. Rendon fouled out to end the frame.

With Craig Kimbrel on the mound in the ninth, Nate McLouth worked a leadoff walk, but Greg Dobbs fouled out and Span popped out. Rendon, though, clubbed a pitch over the wall in center to tie the game.

"We got to their closer. That's tough to do. Gave ourselves a chance," said Washington manager Matt Williams.

Game Notes

Gattis extended his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors ... Before the game, Atlanta placed pitcher Gavin Floyd on the 15-day disabled list as he suffered a fractured olecranon in his right elbow on Thursday. The team recalled Buchter from Gwinnett to take the roster spot ... Washington went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10, while Atlanta was 4-for-15 and left eight ... The Braves have won seven of eight against the Nationals this season.






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