Nationals 1 - 3 Braves
Final
  for this game

Braves take down Nationals to avoid sweep

Sep 18, 2014 - 3:58 AM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Christian Bethancourt's two-run single in the sixth inning provided the difference as Atlanta took down Washington by a 3-1 count in the finale of a three-game series.

Phil Gosselin finished 3-for-4 and scored a run for the Braves, who snapped a five-game skid. Alex Wood (11-10) scattered five hits and one run while striking out eight over his six-plus innings. Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless ninth for his 44th save.

Steven Souza's fifth-inning solo blast was the lone meaningful offense for the Nationals, who clinched their second NL East title in the last three seasons with a win on Tuesday.

"It was good to give (the regulars) a day off," Nationals manager Matt Williams admitted. "They needed one bad."

Ross Detwiler (2-3) was charged with all three Atlanta runs in the deciding frame. Blake Treinen worked the first five scoreless frames, giving up three hits and a walk.

Atlanta surged ahead for good in the home sixth off Detwiler. Gosselin and Ramiro Pena singled, a Freddie Freeman fielders' choice grounder left runners on the corners and Jason Heyward was plunked on the hand to load the bases.

Bethancourt's single which deflected off Tyler Moore at first scored Gosselin and Freeman, then a wild throw home by Nats right fielder Nate Schierholtz allowed Heyward to come in.

"I was not trying to do too much. Just do my job, get some runs in with the bases loaded and 2 outs, put the ball in play," said Bethancourt.

Wood exited after Moore and Schierholtz singled to begin the seventh, then David Carpenter left runners on the corners by fanning Sandy Leon.

Jordan Walden recorded a quiet eighth and Kimbrel followed suit to close out the contest.

Souza's blast to dead center -- his first career homer -- put the Nats on the board with one down in the fifth.

Game Notes

Washington has hit at least one home run in 22 straight road games, two off the longest streak in MLB history (Baltimore, 1996) ... Heyward underwent x- rays on his left thumb following the game, which did not reveal any damage.






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