Braves 1 - 2 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Nats try to pad division lead vs. Braves

Sep 8, 2014 - 2:51 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Nationals will try to further distance themselves from the Atlanta Braves in the NL East when the two clubs open a three-game series Monday at Nationals Park.

The Nationals are seven games ahead of the Braves in the division standings and salvaged the finale of a three-game set versus the Philadelphia Phillies with Sunday's 3-2 win behind two home runs from Adam LaRoche. Ian Desmond finished with two hits and scored a run.

Gio Gonzalez pitched six decent innings and was reached for two runs -- one earned -- and five hits. Drew Storen posted his second save with two strikeouts in the ninth.

"Today's win was big," LaRoche said. "We avoid a sweep and have a win going into tomorrow."

Washington has won five of nine games and will send Doug Fister to the mound Monday. He is 12-6 with a 2.66 earned run average and has lost his last three trips to the hill, including last Tuesday's 4-1 loss at Los Angeles in which he gave up four runs (3 earned) and 10 hits in five innings.

Fister has allowed 11 runs during his personal slide and is 12-6 with a 2.66 earned run average this season. The right-hander, who is 6-2 in nine home starts, defeated the Braves on June 21 with eight shutout innings in a 3-0 victory and has won both of his career starts against them.

The Braves have lost four of their last six games and dropped two of three in Miami this weekend to open a nine-game road trip. They are a half-game out of the second wild card spot.

Atlanta lost Sunday's rubber match by a 4-0 score, as Julio Teheran gave up all four runs and allowed eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I thought the game was right there, we had opportunities to get back in it," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

The Braves, who will visit Texas for three games on the trek, hope Mike Minor can pitch them back on track Monday and he is 6-9 with a 4.65 earned run average. Minor was 2-0 in three starts until a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia last Tuesday and was touched for three runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Minor is 6-9 with a 4.65 ERA this season and 3-2 in 10 road starts. He has an identical record in 10 career starts against the Nationals to go along with a 4.64 ERA. The Braves had won Minor's last three starts.

Atlanta is 9-4 against Washington this season.






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