Nats clinch NL East with 3-0 win over Braves
By Josh Land
Neither the Nationals nor the Braves have found a way to break through against tonight's starters at Turner Field, as the game remains scoreless in the fourth.
Tanner Roark has allowed two hits, walked none and struck out three in three innings. He has thrown 41 pitches, 28 for strikes.
Denard Span, Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos and Roark each singled for the Nats, who have been kept off the board by veteran Aaron Harang. The Braves right-hander stranded two runners in each of the first two frames and has allowed four hits in four scoreless innings. He has struck out four and walked one.
Update: The Nats and Braves remain scoreless after five frames.
Roark has allowed four hits, walked none and struck out four while throwing 66 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Harang has held the Nats to four hits, walked one and struck out four while throwing 74 pitches, 50 for strikes.
Update II: Ian Desmond left no doubt about that one. Desmond absolutely demolished Harang's 2-2 slider for a two-run homer with one out in the sixth to stake the Nats to a 2-0 lead.
Jayson Werth walked to lead off the inning and after LaRoche struck out, Desmond crushed his 23rd homer of the year to deep left. It was Desmond's first homer since Aug. 29, snapping a 15-game drought.
Now it's up to Roark and the pitching staff to keep the Braves in check to wrap up the NL East crown.
Update III: Think Roark is doing his part?
The Nats right-hander has allowed just five basrunners on five singles in seven scoreless innings. He still hasn't issued a free pass while fanning four. Roark has continued to be efficient, needing just 88 pitches to get through the seventh.
And because of that, the Nats are six outs away from reserving their spot in October.
Update IV: Roark is done after seven innings with his final line listed above. A fantastic outing for the 27-year-old, who lowered his season ERA to 2.85.
Tyler Clippard tossed a scoreless eighth in relief and the Nats need just three more outs to clinch.
Update V: Desmond doubled to right to start the ninth, moved up to third on a Harper groundout and scored on reliever David Carpenter's wild pitch with Ramos at that plate.
That gave the Nats a key insurance run, increasing their advantage to 3-0 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
Update VI: Drew Storen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save and let the celebration begin.
The Nationals have beaten the Braves 3-0 and are officially the 2014 NL East champs for the second time in three years, eliminating the rest of the division with 12 games to go.
Much more to come.
Update: The Nats and Braves remain scoreless after five frames.
Roark has allowed four hits, walked none and struck out four while throwing 66 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Harang has held the Nats to four hits, walked one and struck out four while throwing 74 pitches, 50 for strikes.
Update II: Ian Desmond left no doubt about that one. Desmond absolutely demolished Harang's 2-2 slider for a two-run homer with one out in the sixth to stake the Nats to a 2-0 lead.
Jayson Werth walked to lead off the inning and after LaRoche struck out, Desmond crushed his 23rd homer of the year to deep left. It was Desmond's first homer since Aug. 29, snapping a 15-game drought.
Now it's up to Roark and the pitching staff to keep the Braves in check to wrap up the NL East crown.
Update III: Think Roark is doing his part?
The Nats right-hander has allowed just five basrunners on five singles in seven scoreless innings. He still hasn't issued a free pass while fanning four. Roark has continued to be efficient, needing just 88 pitches to get through the seventh.
And because of that, the Nats are six outs away from reserving their spot in October.
Update IV: Roark is done after seven innings with his final line listed above. A fantastic outing for the 27-year-old, who lowered his season ERA to 2.85.
Tyler Clippard tossed a scoreless eighth in relief and the Nats need just three more outs to clinch.
Update V: Desmond doubled to right to start the ninth, moved up to third on a Harper groundout and scored on reliever David Carpenter's wild pitch with Ramos at that plate.
That gave the Nats a key insurance run, increasing their advantage to 3-0 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
Update VI: Drew Storen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save and let the celebration begin.
The Nationals have beaten the Braves 3-0 and are officially the 2014 NL East champs for the second time in three years, eliminating the rest of the division with 12 games to go.
Much more to come.
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