Washington Nationals defeat Atlanta Braves 9-3 – MLB Update
Rick Ankiel hit the second grand slam of his career to help the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 at Nationals Park on August 2.
Winning the first game 5-3, the Nationals played the game with tremendous competitive spirit to once again gain a victory.
The win came their way as ever since Davey Johnson has become the Nationals’ manager, the team has seen gradual upward trend whereby the team puts a combined effort to overpower the rivals.
Tuesday’s game was one of the kind the team wishes to have. "This is my kind of game. I haven't had any there in five weeks," Johnson said. "I've been waiting for one like this."
But above all, it is Ankiel who is shining now. "Ankiel is swinging it pretty good right now," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose team has dropped three straight. "We're not making pitches and we're paying for it right now with him at the plate."
After Ian Desmond scored the first run for the Reds in the second inning against Derek Lowe, the Braves’ offence was quick enough to respond as Michael Bourn and Martin Prado took a single each to give the Braves a 2-1 lead by the end of third inning against
John Lannan.
Jose Constanza had another single in the fourth to give the Braves 3-1 lead but that was not to stay long as the Nationals’ offence sparked in the fourth inning, among which was the contribution of Rick Ankiel.
As Derek Lowe came to pitch the fourth, John Lannan drove in a run to bring the lead down to 3-2. But before Lowe could settle, Rick Ankiel had the hit of the night, snapping in a grand slam that took the Washington Nationals’ lead to 6-3.
Ian Desmond scored a two-run homer in the fifth inning to shatter any hopes of the Braves to stage a comeback in the game after they had lost the first one as well. Even bringing Cristhian Martinez could bring any change as Michael Morse scored another single
in the sixth to make it 9-3 for the Nationals.
Lannan entered into the seventh inning and pitched a shut-out. He was relieved by Henry Rodriguez who also tossed a scoreless eighth to maintain the Nationals’ lead. Henry pitched the ninth inning as well, a complete shut-out to turn the lead into 9-3 victory
for the Nationals.
"This is what this club is capable of doing. Everyone starts getting that fever -- that hitting fever -- it's fun," said Johnson, who became Washington's manager on June 27. "The talent's been there."
With this win, the Nationals now have a 2-0 lead in the three game series, as they managed to put in a brilliant performance against the Braves.
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