Livan Hernandez defeats Atlanta Braves
Washington Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez was the difference on Tuesday as he helped the Nationals defeat the Atlanta Braves 6-0 with his arm and his bat.
In the second of a three-game series at Turner Field, Hernandez pitched eight scoreless innings and also hit his 10th career home run.
Hernandez who improved his record to 10-11, also doubled in a run to finish the game with two hits and two RBIs. On the pitching side, Hernandez struck out six and walked only two batters
to help the Nationals snap a six-game losing streak. The home run by Hernandez was the first by a Nationals pitcher since Ramon Ortiz hit one out of the park back on 4 September, 2006.
"Pitching is more fun (than hitting)," said Hernandez. "We come every day and try to win. What's in the past is in the past."
Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens dropped his record to 7-6 in the loss giving up four runs on nine hits. He also struck out three and walked two in just over five innings of work. The loss
certainly did not help the Braves in the National League Eastern division standings, as they now sit two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies who defeated the Florida Marlins 2-1 on Tuesday. The Braves have dropped two of their last three games.
"I think every game we lose right now is going to be frustrating, especially with the Phillies winning. Like I've been saying, every game right now is really important for us," said Jurrjens.
Despite the loss, the Braves still lead the San Francisco Giants by 1 ½ games in the NL wild card race, after the Giants lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0.
The Nationals opened up the scoring in the second inning fueled by a long, two-run shot of the bat of Adam Dunn. It was the only scoring they needed. Dunn’s mammoth shot was measured at
455 feet after unloading on a 1-1 changeup to right-centre field. It was the sixth longest home run at Turner Field and Dunn’s 35th home run on the season.
"You know when you hit it, it is pretty good. You aren't going to sit and watch it. We have already been in one brawl, I really don't feel like starting another one," said Dunn.
Hernandez then followed in the fourth inning by taking advantage of a hanging slider for a solo shot in left-center field for a 4-0 lead. The Nationals then added a fifth run in the seventh
inning with Danny Espinosa scoring on a sacrifice fly. Ian Desmond completed the scoring in the ninth inning by hitting a solo shot to centre field for the 6-0 win.
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