Braves lose to last place Nationals 4-2
The Atlanta Braves looked great for eight of nine innings Wednesday afternoon against the Washington Nationals, but the four runs the Nationals scored in the second inning were enough to defeat the Braves 4-2.
Atlanta out-hit Washington 10 to five, but failed to get most of their base runners to cross home plate, leaving seven of them stranded.
Rookie Mike Minor got his first lost since being called up late in the season after pitching five innings and giving up four hits, four earned runs and one walk while striking out six. He retired the side in four of the five innings he pitched, but the grand
slam to National’s outfielder Justin Maxwell in the second was enough to cost him the win.
“It was my fault,” Minor said. “I threw him two fastballs right there. The second one, he got. It was more middle in. That’s what he’s looking for in that situation.”
The Braves bullpen combined to strike out five and walk one while only giving up one hit over the last four innings.
“We threw eight shutout innings. We out hit them. We doubled them in hits. Our bullpen was great,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
Atlanta had not trouble getting people on base, just could not do anything once they were there. Not only did they strand seven runners, but they also got runners into scoring position four times and failed to convert them into runs.
“It was one of those days that didn’t go our way,” Cox said.
The Braves held the division lead for most of the season only to lose it recently to the resurgent Philadelphia Phillies. The two teams will face off for a decisive three-game series on 20 September in Philadelphia.
With the loss the Braves fell to 83-64 on the season and fell to three games behind the Phillies who beat the Florida Marlins Wednesday night. Atlanta remains one game in front of the Giants before they play Wednesday night and two and a half games in front
of the Colorado Rockies.
After taking Thursday off, the Braves will embark on a 10-day, nine game road trip starting with a three-game series against the New York Mets. Tommy Hanson will take the mound Friday for the Braves against Jon Niese for the Mets.
The Braves lead the season series with the Mets, 8-7.
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