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Wisler, Braves try to avoid sweep by Nationals

Jun 25, 2015 - 2:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Wisler looks to build off last week's successful major league debut on Thursday afternoon when the Atlanta Braves try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Washington Nationals.

The 22-year-old righty took the place of the demoted Mike Foltynewicz and logged eight innings to beat the New York Mets 2-1 on Friday. Wisler hurled 63 of his 88 pitches for strikes, giving up one run on six hits without a walk. He also fanned two.

Wisler was in line for a tough-luck loss, though, until Jace Peterson hit a two-run double in the eighth inning.

"Tremendous outing. He came as advertised. He mixed three or four pitches," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Wisler.

The Nationals will give Doug Fister his second start since the righty returned from a month-long stint on the disabled list due to a flexor tendon strain.

Fister made his first start since May 14 last Thursday, but looked rusty in a 5-3 loss. He gave up all five runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings, falling to 2-3 with a 4.80 earned run average on the season.

The 31-year-old is 3-1 in five career meetings with the Braves, posting a 2.62 ERA.

Wisler and Fister will follow up Wednesday's pitcher's duel, with the Nats coming away with a 2-1 victory in 11 innings.

Bryce Harper legged out a one-out double off Atlanta's Dana Eveland in the 11th, then consecutive walks to Wilson Ramos and Clint Robinson loaded the bases. David Aardsma entered from the bullpen and served up Ian Desmond's deep sac fly to left.

"I feel like I bring something to the team every day," Desmond said. "It felt good to drive a run in there."

Felipe Rivero picked up the win for Washington, which has won seven straight against the Braves and five in a row overall.

Braves starter Shelby Miller was charged with a run on three hits over seven innings of work, while counterpart Jordan Zimmermann scattered six hits and three strikeouts over eight scoreless innings. He was in line for the win before closer Drew Storen blew the save in the ninth.

"Shelby was tremendous," Gonzalez said.

Zimmermann, meanwhile, extended a scoreless innings streak by Washington starters to 34 1/3 innings, a Nats record. The franchise mark is a 39 1/3- inning run by the Montreal Expos in 1981.

The Braves have dropped two in a row after sweeping a three-game set from the New York Mets last weekend.