After a successful series against Houston, having Washington next on the calendar would typically be a plus. However, the Braves have struggled against the Nats in recent years and this series was right in line with that trend. Oldie-Goldies – Orlando Hernandez and Kenshin Kawakami faced off in Game 1. KK went 5 innings and gave up 7 hits and 3 runs on 2 home runs from Josh Willingham and Ian Desmond. O’Flaherty pitched in the 6th and gave up a homer to Adam Dunn. Johnny Venters pitched the 7th, and gave up another run. Chavez pitched the 8th and gave up yet another run. The Braves mustered a couple on Orlando one of which was another Heyward home run. McCann added a 3rd run in the 9th, but the Braves fell 6-3.
W-L – 11-16; HRs – 17; RBIs – J Heyward (24); BA% – M Prado (.337); K’s – T Hanson (33); http://tinyurl.com/2fzqoah
Game 2 saved the series, but just barely. Team strikeout leader, Tommy Hanson, took the mound against Luis Atilano. The game started quickly, both teams scoring in the opening frames. Hanson lasted 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits and a 2nd inning jack from Ian Desmond. Atilano got rocked for 6 runs on 7 hits in 5 1/3. Omar Infante had a 2nd inning homer. With a 6-4 lead, Peter Moylan tosses a scoreless 7th for his 4th hold of the season. Saito was sent the 8th. He gave up 2 runs and records his first blown save. Kris Medlen was then sent out for the 9th, in case the game went long, and is flawless. The Nationals sent out their closer Matt Capps, who was 11-11 in save chances, to hold the tie for the 8th and 9th innings. In the 9th, Troy Glaus singles, Brandon Hicks pinch runs, Melky Cabrera sacrifice bunts Hicks to second, and Matt Diaz strokes an opposite-field-game-winning-rbi single. Billy notches save number 3 and the Braves have a win.
W-L – 12-16; HRs – 18; RBIs – J Heyward (24); BA% – M Prado (.339); K’s – T Hanson (38); http://tinyurl.com/2ajsuda
Game 3 was painful. Tim Hudson continues his bid for “most unlucky NL starter” or the “Zach Greinke” award against Scott Olsen. After 7 1/3 innings, the Braves hadn’t mustered a single hit on Mr. Olsen. Hudson went 7, giving up 2 on 5 – which is a quality start. Albeit, 2 of those hits were long balls to Pudge and Dunn. Olsen’s no-no not only was broken up, but so was his shutout and his win bid as he allowed 2 runners who eventually scored in the 8th on a pinch-hit 2 RBI single to none other than Jason “THE GREATEST EVER” Heyward. He had tweaked his groin the night before and was only available in a pinch. O’Flaherty came in to relieve Hudson and tossed a scoreless 8th. Then in the 9th – once Clippard had settled down after the uber-choke to Heyward – O’Flaherty remained in the game with a save chance. He walked the lead off – Adam Kennedy – and was promptly yanked. Peter Moylan replaced him and proceeded to not get anyone out. Zimmerman doubled putted runners on 2nd and 3rd, Guzman pinch hit and was intentionally walked bringing up Nyger Morgan (another pinch hitter). Morgan singled into right scoring Kennedy and giving the unlucky O’Flaherty the loss. Philly is next on the docket, and the Braves need something to shake up the bats soon.
W-L – 12-17; HRs – 18; RBIs – J Heyward (26); BA% – M Prado (.327); K’s – T Hanson (38); http://tinyurl.com/2f3jppn
