Atlanta Braves beat Washington Nationals 3-2 as Craig Kimbrel throws scoreless ninth - MLB Update
Right fielder Jason Heyward singles in the fifth and helps Michael Bourn and Dan Uggla to score as the Atlanta Braves win 3-2 against the Washington Nationals in second game of the two match series on June 3, 2012, at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
First inning ended with the Nationals managing a two run lead. For the rest of the innings, the Nationals were shut-out. Meanwhile, the Braves added occasional runs and somehow maintained the lead.
As soon as left fielder Stephen Lombardozzi and centre fielder Bryce Harper thrashed homers in the first inning, it looked as if the Nationals are going to register an overwhelming victory. That was not to be as the Braves’ starter Tommy Hanson rebounded
immediately.
Hanson threw seven innings and struck-out six while giving up two runs. First inning rough-up apart, Hanson will be fairly pleased with the way he recorded his sixth win of the season.
Praising the way Harper struck a home-run, Hanson described the pitch was not bad. It was only due to the hitter who managed to make most of it, home run was given up, he explained.
"I wasn't happy with the first home run, but the second one I didn't think was that bad of a pitch," Hanson said. "That's where I wanted to go and he just hit it good. He's a good player."
To surpass the Braves and restore lead, the Nationals had the best chance when relievers stepped on the mound. However, the way relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel finished last two innings, the Nationals were not allowed any freebies.
O'Flaherty pitched one inning and went scoreless. Similarly, Kimbrel came to close the innings and ended up registering his 16th save for the Braves.
Gio Gonzalez experienced an aberration in a serious of quality starts, since start of the season. Unlike his usual mastery of throwing more than six to seven innings, he left the mound after throwing little more than four innings. He gave up three runs and
conceded seven hits.
"I was falling behind on guys, especially good hitters like that," Gonzalez said. "I just couldn't get it in there. Hopefully I turn that around next start."
Task for the upcoming games for the Nationals is going to be streamlining the offence. They will hope that players like Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman start supplying sufficient number of hits down in the line-up.
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