Martin Prado’s homer helps Atlanta Braves defeat Washington Nationals, 6-5: MLB Update
Martin Prado hammered grand slam and Brian McCann hit a leading runs batted in (RBI) single, as Atlanta Braves overpowered the Washington Nationals by 6-5 at the Turner Field on Thursday night, May 12, to avoid a series sweep.
The Braves were facing a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning until the Nationals' starter, Jordan Zimmermann, remained on the plate for pitching. As soon as Zimmerman handed the ball to Sean Burnett, Freddie Freeman and Alex Gonzalez
stole third and second base, respectively. Then Martin Prado, after receiving three balls and hitting four fouls, launched a four-run grand slam over the centre of the field and tied the game at 5-5.
"They were winning by four -- they didn't want to lose with walks," Prado said. "I got the pitch right down the middle and hit it solid."
The game remained score-less in next two innings and moved into tenth inning. The game was about to jump into eleventh inning, when the Braves’ catcher, Brian McCann, hit to the deep right side of the diamond for a leading single on the last pitch
of the tenth inning.
"This time we were on the other side of a not-cruel game," Gonzalez said. "They let us hang around and we came back and got one. After losing the one last night, it's good to see."
The Braves’ starter, Derek Lowe despite, yielded five runs on five hits, allowed three walks, made just six strike-outs and managed to win his third outing of the season. However, he received an impressive back-up from the relievers, as Cory Gearrin,
Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters remained hitless in their one inning spell.
The closer, Craig Kimbrel, pitched a perfect last inning too to achieve his first win of the season.
Nevertheless, Zimmermann gave away just three runs on five hits, allowed two walks and made eleven strike-outs over six and 1/3 innings, but remained win-less in his sixth start of the season.
Burnett allowed two runs on one hit over 2/3 innings to become the reason behind Zimmermann’s fourth loss of the season. The closer, Doug Slaten, threw splendid two innings and was about to finish his third when he allowed a game decisive run in the
tenth inning.
The Nationals’ Danny Espinosa hammered a two-run home run in the second inning. Adam LaRoche touched an RBI single and Ivan Rodriguez hit an RBI double in the fourth inning to earn his club with a 4-1 lead. Rodriguez also hit a homer in the sixth to
achieve 5-1 lead.
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