Braves 3 - 2 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Gonzalez seeks repeat performance for Nats against Braves

Jun 3, 2012 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - Gio Gonzalez allowed just one hit and fanned 10 over seven innings in last Sunday's 7-2 win at Atlanta. The left-hander is back at it again against the Braves this afternoon, this time from Nationals Park.

Gonzalez, who is on a five-game winning streak, has struck out 38 batters over his last four starts and amazingly has given up just one homer all year. His lone defeat came April 29 against the Dodgers.

Tommy Hanson, who is 0-1 over his last two starts after winning two in a row, counters for the Braves. The righty gave up a season-high six runs over 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cardinals on Monday.

Yesterday, Stephen Strasburg tossed seven scoreless innings and Xavier Nady delivered a key pinch-hit RBI double as Washington took down Atlanta, 2-0, in the opener of a truncated two-game series.

"That's the Strasburg we want to see. He was just unbelievable today, totally in command," said Nationals manager Davey Johnson. "I know he was strong, he still had another inning or two in him, but we got what we needed. The bullpen was set up perfectly thanks to the job he did."

Jesus Flores hit a solo homer for the Nationals, who halted a three-game losing skid.

Strasburg (6-1) scattered four hits and fanned nine to win his third straight start. Tyler Clippard added a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

"He's good. We're going to have to face him a lot more. We have to make adjustments," Braves second baseman Dan Uggla said of facing Strasburg.

Brandon Beachy (5-4) was the hard-luck loser, giving up just three hits and a pair of runs in 6 1/3 frames for the Braves, who have dropped six in a row to Washington since last September.






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