Nats win 2-1 in 11th on Desmond's sacrifice fly scoring Harper

The Braves have base hits in five of seven innings against Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann, but nothing to show for them. Zimmermann has thrown 76 pitches through seven scoreless frames with no walks and two strikeouts.

Anthony Rendon gave the Nationals their only baserunner against Braves starter Shelby Miller on a single in the fourth. Otherwise, Miller has completely shut down the Nats with four strikeouts through six innings.

Ian Desmond committed his 16th error of the season on a routine groundball from Andrelton Simmons in the second.

zimmermann-throwing-white-close-sidebar.jpgZimmermann's seven shutout innings tonight extend the Nats starting pitching scoreless innings streak to 33.

Update: Miller issued his first walk of the game to Denard Span to start the seventh. Rendon followed with his second hit on a bouncing ball through the hole into left.

Yunel Escobar hit a grounder to short that forced Rendon at second, but left the Nats with runners at the corners and one out.

Bryce Harper then broke out of a mini 0-for-9 slump when he fought off a Miller fastball to shoot it into right field just beyond the outstretched glove of Jace Peterson. Span raced home, scoring easily on the play for the game's first run.

Miller left the game after the seventh.

Update II: Zimmermann pitched eight scoreless innings, scattering six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches.

The Nationals starting pitchers have set a club record with 34 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. This stretch, which dates back to the second inning on Friday night against the Pirates, bests the previous Nationals record of 26 2/3 innings, which they accomplished in Sept. 2014.

Drew Storen will pitch the ninth.

Update III: Storen couldn't close out the Braves in the ninth. Nick Markakis served a single to left to start the frame and A.J. Pierzynski followed with a base knock to right. After Storen intentionally walked Joey Terdoslavich to load the bases, Kelly Miller lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center scoring Markakis to tie the game.

Update IV: Escobar led off the ninth with a base knock up the middle, but Braves right-hander Jason Grilli retired Harper, Wilson Ramos and Clint Robinson in order to end the inning.

Right-hander Casey Janssen pitched a perfect 10th for the Nationals.

Update V: Michael A. Taylor roped a one-out double in the 10th off Braves right-hander Nick Masset. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez opted to intentionally walk Danny Espinosa and then bring in lefty Luis Avilan to face Span. Span, 0-for-9 in his career against Avilan, hit a bouncing ball to force Espinosa out at second leaving the Nats with runners at the corners for pinch-hitter Tyler Moore.

Moore hit a dribbler back to Avilan to end the threat.

Update VI: Lefty Felipe Rivero gave up a two-out double to Chris Johnson, but finished off a scoreless 11th.

Harper ripped a one-out double in the 11th. Braves left-hander Dana Eveland then walked Ramos and Robinson to load the bases for Desmond.

Desmond lifted a sacrifice fly to deep left scoring Harper.

The Nats beat the Braves 2-1 in 11 innings.




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