Braves rake Gonzalez early, lead 6-0 (Nats lose 10-2)

It didn't take long for the Braves to get to Gio Gonzalez. Atlanta took a 3-0 lead over the Nationals in the first inning.

Gonzalez issued a leadoff walk to Jason Heyward, and then threw away a bunt attempt by B.J. Upton, placing runners at second and third with no outs. Freddie Freeman followed with a sac fly and Justin Upton homered to center for a 3-0 lead. Andrelton Simmons then tripled, but was stranded at third.

In the second, Tyler Pastornicky tripled into the right field corner and scored on Heyward's double to right. Two batters later, Freeman crushed a 94 mph fastball into the stands in right for a two-run homer and a 6-0 lead.

Through two innings, Gonzalez has surrendered six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk. He's fanned two and thrown 43 pitches, 31 for strikes.

Update: Gonzalez is still in as we move to the bottom of the fifth, a nod to save a tired bullpen, but at least there's no longer a goose egg next to the Nationals' name in the score column.

Kevin Frandsen lead off the Nats' fifth with a double to left-center, moved to third on Danny Espinosa's bunt single and scored on Jose Lobaton's groundout. It's now 6-1.

Update II: Gonzalez is done after six innings. He allowed six runs on nine hits, walked four and struck out six. Ross Detwiler is on to pitch the seventh.

Update III: Freeman struck again in the bottom of the eighth, cracking an RBI double to left for a 7-1 Atlanta lead. Later in the frame, Simmons homered to center, a three-run shot that made it 10-1 and chased Detwiler.

Update IV: Adam LaRoche homered leading off the Nationals ninth, but the Nats fell 10-2.