Washington Nationals rout Atlanta Braves 8-4 as Ryan Zimmerman drives in four runs - MLB Update
Third-baseman Ryan Zimmerman rallies from a poor run of form earlier to a splendid resurgence of dominance in the last week as he takes the Washington Nationals to an 8-4 victory against the Atlanta Braves on July 1, 2012 in third game of the three match
series at Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia.
Braves were at their home and thus the fiery heat pouring down from the sun at Turner Field must be familiar to them. However, for the Nationals it was nightmarish, which one can assume may affect their performance, allowing Atlanta enjoy an advantage.
Against all the odds, Washington stayed resilient proving that their hegemony in the Division is independent of contingencies that may come in their way. Striking nine hits and watching a bunch of pitchers throwing as per the plan, the Nationals kept the
Braves at bay in the game.
Knowing that the heat may take a toll on the starter Gio Gonzalez, Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson called him back after the fifth. He handed the challenge to relievers, in the hope that one-by-one, they can divide the burden and disallow Atlanta from reaching
a run-spree on any occasion.
Much to the satisfaction of the manager, bullpen accepted the challenge. Relievers threw impeccable innings under-pressure, ensuring the victory.
Craig Stammen followed Gonzalez on the mound in the sixth. He was scoreless in two innings. Similarly, Tyler Clippard was near perfect in the ninth, keeping the Braves quiet.
As regards to the offence, Zimmerman led the charge. Making three hits in five at-bats, he contributed four RBIs, propelling his slugging percentage to .366, in the season.
Not at his best following shoulder inflammation that he suffered earlier, Zimmerman thinks he has come a long way now. His confidence is back, which may prove to be the only thing he was lacking before.
"I think I'm healthier than I was before," Zimmerman said. "You have a few good games in a row and your confidence gets going, and that's the name of the game. We've got to get some confidence, build momentum and just roll with it."
Braves on the other hand, will be concerned about their starter Tim Hudson, who gave up six runs, becoming the greatest reason for their loss.
To keep the top position in the table intact, the Nationals will be looking for similar performances. Since the season now enters a crucial phase, winning on a consistent basis is even more important. Guarding against complacency is something the Nationals
will be conscious about.
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