Atlanta Braves thwart Washington Nationals 11-10 as Paul Janish hits winning run - MLB Update
The short-stop, Paul Janish singles to left-centre in the eleventh inning as he helps the Atlanta Braves record a stunning 11-10 victory against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. on July 20, 2012 in the first game of the four match
series.
In a game that took interesting twists and turns right from the start eventually ended up in favour of Atlanta. Washington was all set for an easy victory as they posted a nine run lead at a time when the Braves had not even scored a single run. Until the
end of the fifth, the Nationals were in complete control of the game.
However, Atlanta initiated the progress from the top of the sixth. The home-run that the catcher Brian McCann struck proved a watershed event. It triggered a rampage that took the Braves past the Nationals from such a situation where it was highly unlikely
that they can come back.
While the Braves showed an incredible fight back, the Nationals were equally resilient. In the bottom of the ninth when Atlanta had blown the lead, Washington’s second baseman Danny Espinosa struck a home-run and brought the team back into the game again.
However, Atlanta went on to win in additional innings.
Braves' starter Tommy Hanson threw four innings and gave up eight runs, including two home-runs. The fact the relief pitchers were impressive and did not leak many runs, Atlanta had an advantage over Nationals during the penultimate innings.
Their relief pitcher, Chad Durbin pitched one scoreless inning and recorded the save.
As far as the Nationals’ pitchers were concerned, their starter Stephen Strasburg had an exceptional day with regard to his performance on the mound in the season.
That four runs he allowed in little more than five innings are not the kind of numbers that one witnesses from him usually. He will be disappointed and will try to keep the momentum from falling as he appears in upcoming games.
Similarly, the Nationals’ relief pitcher Tom Gorzelanny will be disheartened as he gave up one run at a time when it cost his team the loss. Thus, the whole effort that was made by the club was rendered insignificant with just one run by him in the eleventh.
The Nationals will be looking to bounce back in the second game of the series.
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