The Washington Nationals have not given up on their season, but they know they cannot afford another skid like they've had numerous times this year. They kept rolling in the first game of their doubleheader on Tuesday, getting the best of the Atlanta Braves at home, 8-3. Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman both went deep, back-to-back in the fourth inning to help the Nats pull away for good. Those back-to-back jacks were part of a four-run inning, as Washington moved back to four games over .500.
They have now won nine of their past 12 games and hold a record this good for the first time since June 29th. The once struggling Nationals have outscored opponents, 84-38, during their recent run, but still sit behind both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Braves in the NL East standings.
Zimmerman finished Monday's first game 3-for-5, while Harper drove in two with a pair of hits. The Home Run Derby Champion has gone 13-for-28 with two home runs and eight RBI in his past eight games. His long ball on Monday afternoon was his 27th of the season.
This offense supported rookie right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, who got his first major league win by throwing five innings of of one-run baseball. The hurler added his first-career hit and RBI in the majors at the plate. The Nationals also debuted former All-Star closer Greg Holland, whom they acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Holland got off to a nice start by striking out the side in the seventh inning.
Trea Turner and Juan Soto added RBIs for the Nationals, who got to 20-year-old rookie Kolby Allard early on. Allard was recalled from the minor leagues by the Braves for this start and suffered his first loss of the season. Atlanta had won five of six, but drop to 1.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East. Charlie Culberson went deep in the loss for the Braves, who also got two hits and an RBI from Nick Markakis. These two teams will play one more time on Tuesday night.
They have now won nine of their past 12 games and hold a record this good for the first time since June 29th. The once struggling Nationals have outscored opponents, 84-38, during their recent run, but still sit behind both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Braves in the NL East standings.
Zimmerman finished Monday's first game 3-for-5, while Harper drove in two with a pair of hits. The Home Run Derby Champion has gone 13-for-28 with two home runs and eight RBI in his past eight games. His long ball on Monday afternoon was his 27th of the season.
This offense supported rookie right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, who got his first major league win by throwing five innings of of one-run baseball. The hurler added his first-career hit and RBI in the majors at the plate. The Nationals also debuted former All-Star closer Greg Holland, whom they acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Holland got off to a nice start by striking out the side in the seventh inning.
Trea Turner and Juan Soto added RBIs for the Nationals, who got to 20-year-old rookie Kolby Allard early on. Allard was recalled from the minor leagues by the Braves for this start and suffered his first loss of the season. Atlanta had won five of six, but drop to 1.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East. Charlie Culberson went deep in the loss for the Braves, who also got two hits and an RBI from Nick Markakis. These two teams will play one more time on Tuesday night.
