The Washington Nationals have recovered from a six game losing streak and have now won three in a row, beating the Atlanta Braves 5-3 August 1.
The game started with solo home runs by both teams as Nats’ center fielder Rick Ankiel hit a shot to center in the bottom of the first, and Braves’ second baseman Dan Uggla hit a shot of his own the very next half inning.
Ankiel, the Nats’ leadoff hitter for the time being, is making the most of the opportunity to play every day after the team sent down center fielder Roger Bernadina earlier in the week.
“It’s awfully hard to sit, especially if you’re capable of being a power hitter like he is, when you get one, two starts every week,” Nationals’ Manager Davey Johnson said. “Now he’s getting a regular diet in there. He cut down on strikeouts, his swings are better, and that comes with playing.”
The Nationals retook the lead in the bottom of the second when starting pitcher Livan Hernandez hit a single to right to score Jayson Werth from third.
Ankiel hit his second homer and fifth of the year in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Nats up 3-1. This was his fifth multi-homer game of his career.
Nationals’ left fielder Laynce Nix came through with an RBI in the bottom of the sixth to score first baseman Michael Morse. The next hitter, Ian Desmond, hit into a fielder’s choice at shortstop, scoring Werth to make it a 5-1 game.
Washington got a great start out of Hernandez after the veteran right hander had struggled in his last few starts. On Monday, he threw six innings, striking out three, allowing six hits, no walks and one run.
“He was outstanding,” Johnson said. “I was going to let him face a couple hitters in the seventh, he was throwing so good, but I had a chance to add on.”
Braves’ catcher David Ross hit a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning to cut Atlanta’s deficit to three.
Uggla hit his second homer of the game as well in the top of the ninth off of Nats’ closer Drew Storen. It was his 22nd home run of the season. But that would be it, as Storen did not allow any more runs and preserved the win.
While the Nationals are 17 games back in the NL East and 10 games back in the NL Wild Card standings, the team has not given up on the season quite yet. If there is any hope, they must beat the teams in their division, like the Braves.
“We’re up for our division, and we need to play well against the teams we gotta catch,” Johnson said. “And I think everybody in that room feels the same way. Bring ‘em on.”
