Dan Uggla's three-run blast gives Nats historic 13-12 comeback win

ATLANTA - It was a tough major league debut tonight for Nationals starter A.J. Cole. The 23-year-old rookie was battered for nine runs on nine hits as he lasted only two innings.

The Braves' approach was relentless against Cole as they battered fastballs all over Turner Field. Cole did have a chance to lessen the damage with two outs in the second and the Nats down 4-1. Braves third baseman Alberto Callaspo hit a bouncer to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Cole sprinted over to cover the bag, but dropped Zimmerman's toss that should have ended the inning. The Braves scored two on the gaffe and eventually plated three more in the frame. Cole was charged with four earned runs on the night.

Right-hander Tanner Roark relieved and pitched a perfect third, but the Braves connected on back-to-back hits to start the fourth and tacked on a 10th run.

Center fielder Denard Span has scored both runs for the Nats tonight. He singled to lead off the game and then scored all the way from first base on right fielder Bryce Harper's two-out RBI double. Span started the third inning with a double and advanced to third on shortstop Ian Desmond's groundout. Left fielder Jayson Werth brought Span in with a sacrifice fly.

Update: Span began the fourth by smoking his second double. He moved to third when Callaspo booted a Desmond grounder and then scored again on a Werth sacrifice fly.

After Harper struck out for the second time, Zimmerman reached on a two-out single, setting the stage for catcher Jose Lobaton's first homer of the season, a three-run blast.

Update II: Span is having some kind of night. He crushed a solo homer over the right field wall in the sixth to pull the Nats within 10-7. Span is 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and four runs scored.

The Braves answered right away with a leadoff single from first baseman Freddie Freeman in the sixth. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski followed with shot off the wall in center that went for a double and scored Freeman all the way from first.

Nationals manager Matt Williams yanked Roark after he allowed the third consecutive batter of the inning to reach on a walk to Callaspo.

Update III: A pair of walks to Harper and Lobaton set up second baseman Dan Uggla's two-run triple in the seventh. It's Uggla's second night in a row with a three-bagger. Williams sent outfielder Reed Johnson in to pinch-hit and he delivered a double to plate Uggla to cut the Braves lead to one. The Braves led 9-1 at one point.

Johnson was forced to leave the game after his double with an injury and Williams sent last night's starting pitcher Doug Fister in to pinch run.

Span's perfect night came to an end as he flew out to center to end the inning with Fister stranded at second.

Williams called for right-hander Blake Treinen to start the seventh. Treinen surrendered a one-out walk to shortstop Andrelton Simmons and it would prove costly. Two batters later, Pierzynski gave the Braves some insurance with his fourth hit of the night to plate Simmons.

Desmond, Werth and Harper went down in order in the eighth.

Update IV: Uggla stunned the crowd at Turner Field with a massive three-run homer in the ninth to give the Nats a stunning 13-12 victory.

Closer Drew Storen pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save. Treinen picked up the victory.

The eight-run comeback is the largest in Nationals history.