Washington Nationals defeat Atlanta Braves 3-0 – MLB Update
The Washington Nationals blanked Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Sunday, September 25 to bag their second consecutive win and wrap the three-game series 2-1 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
With just three games left in the regular season, this loss was brutal for the Braves. Striving hard for a National League Wild Card berth, Atlanta’s lead over the St. Louis Cardinals was slashed to just one game and with a three-game series against Philadelphia
Phillies next, the picture has become gloomy for the Braves.
Nationals’ bull-pen was abreast in keeping the Braves at bay. Ross Detwiler pitched six scoreless innings amid four hits to register his fourth win of the season before Henry Rodriguez, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen pitched a perfect inning each to completely
oust the Braves.
A relief pitcher by trade, Detwiler started impressively to fortify his position in the rotation next season. He has now pitched 13.1 scoreless innings over his last two starts, leaking just seven hits and allowing three walks in this stretch.
Storen has kept his stature high throughout the season and this game was yet another display of his true versatility to Washington’s bull-pen. With nothing much at stake, Storen’s perfect last allowed his team to level the Braves 9-9 for this season and
secure them a potential third-spot finish in the NL East.
For the Braves, however, there was much more at stake than just a series. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said, "We know what's at stake. We know what every game means. You've got to go out and play the game with some fun. We can't play with white knuckles on the
bat and hold the ball so hard you can't throw it."
Central to Atlanta’s loss was the failure of their top-four batters in the line-up. Michael Bourn, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones and Dan Uggla combined went 0-for-16 to add to the misery of Atlanta.
Uggla admitted that scoring runs is essential to win even if the pitchers perform above par.
Mike Minor was unlucky to lose his third game after conceding just one run in 4.2 innings. Minor had not dropped a game since May 31, but a batting collapse saw his win-loss record slip to 5-3.
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