Braves 1 - 2 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Braves turn to Wood in DC finale

Apr 6, 2014 - 2:20 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Atlanta's pitching has carried the Braves to a successful first week of the season. Now, 23-year-old left-hander Alex Wood aims to help the Braves complete a three-game road sweep of the Washington Nationals.

Wood wound up allowing a first-inning run along with a total of five hits and three walks while fanning five over seven innings of a 5-2 win at Milwaukee on Tuesday. That was the start of Atlanta's current four-game winning streak.

Wood, who went 3-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 31 games (11 starts) last year, has been spectacular against the Nationals, but doesn't have a decision in either of his two starts. Wood has logged 12 strikeouts against two walks, and has given up three runs -- one earned -- in over 11 innings to earn a 0.82 ERA against Washington.

Taylor Jordan takes the mound for the Nationals in his attempt to stop Washington's two-game skid in his initial start of 2014. The final start of the 2013 season for the 25-year-old right-hander came against the Braves on Aug. 16 when he allowed only two unearned runs in six innings of a no- decision.

The Braves haven't given up more than two runs in any game this season.

On Saturday, Dan Uggla drove in two runs during a decisive four-run fifth inning that boosted the Braves to a 6-2 win.

Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (1-1) struck out six over seven strong innings and limited the Nationals to just two runs on three hits and four walks to pick up the win.

Ian Thomas spun a scoreless eighth and Jordan Walden stranded runners on first and second in the ninth to close out Atlanta's victory.

Teheran also added two hits and an RBI at the plate, while Ryan Doumit and Andrelton Simmons supplied an RBI apiece in the win.

"That's our goal, to win every series. We've put ourselves in a position to sweep now," Uggla said.

Stephen Strasburg (0-1) was knocked around for six runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and three walks over 4 1/3 frames to absorb the loss.

"I just left some pitches up," Strasburg said.

Adam LaRoche launched a two-run homer for the Nationals, who could be without third baseman Ryan Zimmerman today. He departed Saturday's game due to pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder.

The Braves have won 10 of their last 12 games at Washington.






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