Rendon's patience pays dividends (Ross leaves early; Nats win 10-5)

The Nationals went after Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb in the bottom of the first inning.

Newcomb had trouble finding the strike zone early as Brian Goodwin and Wilmer Difo were walked.

Bryce Harper followed with a single to left field that loaded the bases. Goodwin stopped at third base despite a wave home sign from third base coach Bobby Henley, respecting Matt Kemp's arm.

The move proved wise because Ryan Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to right field scored Goodwin.

Later, Anthony Rendon laced a double to center field that scored two runs.

After one inning, the Nats lead the Braves 3-0.

Right-hander Joe Ross has allowed only one hit per inning but no runs.

Mid-second in D.C., Nats lead by three runs.

Update: Ross hurt himself in the third. He walked Ender Inciarte and Johan Camargo with two outs. Freddie Freeman followed with a towering three-run shot over the left-center field wall to tied the game at 3-3.

It was Freeman's 16th homer of the season and came on a 1-0 pitch.

Newcomb has settled down for the Braves. He has allowed only one hit in the last two innings.

After three innings in Nats Park, the Braves and the Nats are squared away at 3-3.

Update II: Ross left after recording the first out in the top of the fourth. Ross did not throw another pitch after getting Nick Markakis to fly out to left field. He finished 3 1/3 innings. Trainer Paul Lessard escorted Ross to the dugout. Ross threw 63 pitches, 39 for strikes, allowing three hits, two costly walks and the Freeman homer. He struck out three.

Matt Grace entered the game and recorded the final two outs of the frame. No word on the extent of the injury to Ross, but that marks the second straight game the Nationals starter had to leave before finishing four innings. Stephen Strasburg left Saturday's game after three innings.

Ross threw a career-high 114 pitches on July 4 in a 11-4 win over the Mets. He was at 96 pitches after six innings in the runaway win. The Nats were leading 9-2 when he took the mound in the seventh.

After 3 1/2 innings today, the game is still all even at 3-3.

Update III: The Nats answered with a one spot in the fourth. After walks to Rendon and Matt Wieters, Chris Heisey launched a fly ball off the wall in left-center, scoring Rendon, and the Nats regained the lead, 4-3.

Newcomb finished four innings, allowing for four runs on four hits with four walks, striking out seven. He was replaced by former Nats prospect Ian Krol.

After 4 1/2 innings, the Nats lead 4-3.

Update IV: In the fifth, the Nats took it to Braves reliever and former organizational farmhand Ian Krol. Zimmerman walked with one out. Then the Nats strung together three singles in a row, highlighted by a Wieters base knock that scored two. After 5 1/2 innings, the Nats lead 6-3.

The Braves answered in the bottom of the sixth thanks to the first major league homer, a solo shot, by Johan Camargo. Freeman then singled and went to third on a two-base fielding error by Harper. Kemp was walked. Freeman scored on a fielder's choice by Markakis.

After six complete, the Nats lead the Braves 6-5.

Update V: The Nats add a run in the seventh courtesy a Wieters sacrifice fly. Run set up by Rendon who walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Braves catcher Tyler Flowers. After seven innings, the Nats lead is 7-5.

Update VI: Harper an RBI single and Murphy a two-run double for big insurance in the eighth. Nats lead 10-5.

Update VII: After Oliver Pérez allows a leadoff double to Matt Adams, Matt Albers records three outs to end the game. The Nats split the four-game set with the Braves.

Final score: the Nats 10, the Braves 5.