Nats crush Braves 15-6, take 2 of 3 and win series
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This is the type of offense that Manny Acta envisioned when the season started. The Nationals scored 15 runs on 17 hits to beat the Braves 15-6 and win the weekend series by taking the final two games.
The 15 runs were the most by the Nationals since baseball returned to DC.
Washington scored three runs in the second and third to take a 6-2 lead. They put up a 6-spot in the fourth to make it 12-2 before Atlanta scored three in the bottom of the inning to make it 12-5. The Nationals answered with two in the fifth to make it 14-5 and help Odalis Perez pick up his third win of the season.
The Nationals offense was led by Willie Harris, who had two hits, including a 2-run homer, and five RBI. Harris reach base safely in five of six at bats. Austin Kearns went 3-5, with his 100th career homer, a 2-run shot in the six-run fourth and reached base five times and scored five runs, tying the franchise record.
Jesus Flores had a career-high five hits, with two RBI and Felipe Lopez drove in three runs and reached base four times with two singles, a double and a bases loaded walk. He scored three times. Every starter had a hit except for Cristian Guzman. Guzman went 0-5 and was hit by a pitch.
Perez struggled in his five innings, but obviously when he's backed by 14 runs, it's easy to pick up a win. He gave five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out four. Perez threw 99 pitches. At the plate, Perez came up three times with the bases loaded and all three times, the runner was forced out at the plate, but a throwing error allowed two runs to score in the Nationals 6-run fourth.
Trailing 1-0 entering the second, Lopez walked to force in the tying run. Three batters later, Harris singled home two runs to make it 3-1. Washington made it a 6-1 game in the third, when Flores and Langerhans each drove in a run and Harris walked with the bases loaded.
Washington broke the game open in the fourth. Austin Kearns hits a 2-run homer to make it 8-2. With the bases loaded Perez grounded into a 3-2 force out, but the throw back to first, by Corky Miller, sailed on him and ended up in right field, allowing two runs to score and keep the inning alive. Harris followed with his sixth long ball and making it a 12-2 game.
The Braves got three runs back in the bottom of the inning, on pinch-hitter Martin Prado's 2-run homer. It was his first of the season. Three batters later, Chipper Jones doubled home a run to make it 12-5.
The Nationals responded by scoring two in the fifth. Flores singled home Kearns, who doubled and Flores scored on Lopez's double.
The Braves offense was led by Mark Teixeira, who hit two home runs and drove in three runs. Martin Prado hit a pinch-hit two run homer in the Braves three-run fourth.
Postgame Notes
Willie Harris went 2-3 with three walks, HR and 5 RBI. He went 7-12 with a double, triple, homer, 7 RBI and scored 5 runs in the three-game series.
Jesus Flores went 5-6 with two RBI and scored two runs.
Austin Kearns fell a triple shy of the cycle. He hit a 2-run homer and scored five runs. In the series, Kearns was 6-14 with three RBI and six runs.
Felipe Lopez drove in three runs with three hits and scored three times.
Ryan Langerhans went 6-13 with 2 RBI and scored 5 runs against his former team in the three game set.
Washington wins their first series since taking two of three from the Orioles from June 27-29.
The Nationals improve to 9-8 on Sunday's. The only day of the week they have a winning record. They also improve to 27-10 when scoring more than five runs.
Final Linescore
Nationals 15-17-1
Braves 6-11-4
WP-Perez (3-7)
LP-Reyes (3-9)
HR-Kearns (5), Harris (6), Teixeira 2 (19), Prado (1)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
Nationals scoring, 4th inning
Washington blew this game wide open with a 6-run fourth, taking a 12-2 lead.
Two 2-run homers and a three-base throwing error led to the half-dozen runs. Austin Kearns 100th career home run gave the Nationals an 8-2 lead. After three straight singles loaded the bases, Odalis Perez hit a one-hopper to Mark Teixeira at first. Teixeira threw home for the force out, but Corky Miller's throw to first sailed over Kelly Johnson's head and went almost to the wall, allowing two runs to score. Perez ended up on third. Willie Harris followed with his sixth homer of the year and the Nations lead 12-2. Harris has 5 RBI on the day.
Nationals scoring, 5th inning
Jesus Flores singled home Austin Kearns, whho doubled to lead-ff the fifth, and scored on Felipe Lopez's double, to make it 14-5
Perez final line
Odalis Perez struggled to get thru five innings, but he was given a big enough cushion that he'll likely pick up hs third win of the season. He gave up five runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out four. Two of the hits were home runs.
5 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR. 99 pitches, 64 strikes.
Nationals scoring, 3rd inning
Washington chased Braves starter, Jo-Jo Reyes, with a 3-run third inning.
With 1-out, Austin Kearns walked, Ronnie Belliard, Jesus Flores, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Langerhans all singled and the Nationals built a 5-1 lead. After Bobby Cox pulled Reyes, Willie Harris followed with a walk, to force in their sixth run. The pitch from Buddy Carlyle was borderline and Cox was ejected for arguing the call.
Braves scoring, 3rd inning
Odalis Perez gave up a solo homer to Mark Teixeira in the third. Teixeira has driven in both Braves runs.
Nationals scoring, 2nd inning
The Nationals didn't miss a chance to get the run back that Odalis Perez gave up in the first.
With the bases loaded, Felipe Lopez drew a 4-pitch walk, to force in Austin Kearns, who led-off with a single. After Ryan Langerhans popped out to short and Perez hit into a fielders choice, Willie Harris, down 0-2 in the count, singled to right to score two runs and give the Nationals a 3-1 lead. Paul Lo Duca flew out to left the end the inning.
Braves scoring, 1st inning
Odalis Perez went to the well one to many times on Mark Teixeira and Teixeira made him pay.
With 2-outs, Gregor Blanco on second and an 0-1 count, Perez tried to sneak a fastball by Texieira, but he lined into left, scoring Blanco. As soon as the ball was hit, Perez was visibly upset at himself for leaving the ball over the heart of the plate. Jeff Francoeur followed with a double, to put runners on the corners, but Perez got Mark Kotsay to fly out to end the inning.
Starting Line-Ups
Nationals
CF Willie Harris
1B Paul Lo Duca
SS Cristian Guzman
RF Austin Kearns
3B Ronnie Belliard
C Jesus Flores
2B Felipe Lopez
LF Ryan Langerhans
P Odalis Perez
Braves
LF Gregor Blanco
2B Kelly Johnson
3B Chipper Jones
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Jeff Francoeur
CF Mark Kotsay
SS Brent Lillibridge
C Corky Miller
P Jo-Jo Reyes
Game Preview
Nationals (37-61) at Atlanta (46-51)
Last night, the Nationals snapped their three-game losing streak with the 8-2 win over the Braves. John Lannan pitched six strong innings, giving up just one run, to pick up his sixth win of the season. Cristian Guzman had three RBI and Willie Harris and Paul Lo Duca had two each.
Washington looks for the series win this afternoon as they send Odalis Perez to the hill. The Braves counter with Jo-Jo Reyes.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Odalis Perez (2-6, 3.66) is winless in his last five starts and has only one win in his last eight outings. That came on May 28th at San Diego.
In his last start, prior to the All-Star break, Perez gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings in the Astros 5-0 win in DC. He was pitching out of trouble most of the day, but continued to get himself out of jams and kept the Nationals in the game.
Perez is making his second start against the Braves this season. In his previous start, he gave up a run on four hits in five innings on Opening Night. Perez got a no-decision in the Nationals 3-2 win.
In his career vs. Atlanta, Perez is 1-3 with a 4.81 ERA in eight games, seven starts. This is his ninth road start of the season. He is 2-3 with a 4.96 ERA and opponents have a .310 average off the Nationals lefty.
LHP Jo-Jo Reyes (3-8, 4.40) has lost his last four starts and hasn't won since June 13th. Reyes hasn't pitched badly, but he's been hurt by lack of run support. The Braves have scored a total of two runs in his last four games.
In his last start, July 11th at San Diego, Reyes gave up two runs on four hits in four innings in the Padres 4-0 win.
Reyes has a 2-4 record with a 6.16 ERA at Turner Field in eight starts this season and opponents are hitting .309 off him.
He has never faced the Nationals in his brief career.
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