Washington Nationals edge past Atlanta Braves 7-6 in series-opener: MLB Update
The Washington Nationals romped to a 7-6 victory in a close confrontational first outing against the Atlanta Braves at the Turner Field on Tuesday May 10, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
Jayson Werth hit an RBI single off the Braves’ Tim Hudson in first inning to provide the Nationals an early 1-0 lead. The game then remained scoreless in next two innings until the top of the fourth, when Laynce Nix launched a 429-feet long three-run homer
off Hudson and took his club to a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Martin Prado hit a 369-feet small one-run homer off the Nationals’ starter Jason Marquis to trim the lead to 1-4. However, Jayson Werth came into action again and this time launched a three-run homer off Hudson in fifth to take
his team to a 7-1 lead.
"A month ago, I would have swung and missed," Werth said. "Two weeks ago, I probably would have hit it foul. A week ago, I would have hit it to the third baseman."
While the batters piled up seven runs in five innings, Marquis held the Braves scoreless before he gave a homer to Prado in fourth. After allowing this, Marquis again became a difficult contender for the Braves and did not give easy hits. However, in the
eighth innings Marquis received an RBI single and earned a run before Sean Burnett relieved him.
Marquis tossed seven and 1/3 innings, allowed three runs on seven hits, walked two and made three strikeouts to cement his place for fourth win of the season.
Marquis said of his performance. "It was exciting, obviously, that I got 100 here. It is definitely a special part of my career. Who would have ever thought when I first broke in that I would get to this point? But I guess a lot of hard work and good fortune
with health has allowed me to do that."
As soon as Marquis left pitching, the Braves bounced back as right fielder, Eric Hinske, added another run in the same eighth inning, trimming the lead to 3-7. Realizing the game could slip out of their hands, the Nationals manager Jim Riggleman relieved
Burnett with the fresh Tyler Clippard.
The move, however, proved negative as the Braves’ slugger, Dan Uggla launched a 408-feet long three-run homer to shorten the lead to 6-7.
Riggleman was aware of his mistake and told reporters. "It was a little scary there."
The game was 7-6 in the top of the ninth inning and the Braves’ closer tossed a perfect inning, holding the Nationals scoreless. However, he did not receive a positive back up from the batters and the Braves lost the game by 7-6.
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