Resilient Nats fight back again in 5-4 win

Veterans Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos delivered clutch RBIs in the bottom of the eighth to help the Nationals to their eighth come-from-behind win of the early season in today's 5-4 victory over the Braves.

After a sluggish start in the first 20 games of the year, the Nationals have stormed back, winning 10 of 12 while showing tremendous resiliency especially in late innings.

"I like the fact that we grind," Nationals manager Matt Williams said.

Trailing by one entering the eighth, shortstop Ian Desmond picked up a leadoff single. Left fielder Jayson Werth then drew a walk and with one out, Zimmerman knocked a base hit up the middle to score Desmond and tie the game at 4-4.

Ramos, in the midst of a 13-game hitting streak, followed by slicing a double into the right field corner. Zimmerman, who has been plagued by plantar fasciitis, motored around the bases. When he rounded second and looked up, he saw Nats third base coach Bob Henley emphatically waving him home. As the Braves relay reached the plate, Zimmerman dove headfirst, beating the ball safely to score the eventual game-winning run.

"I was trying to hit the ball well," Ramos said. "I was waiting for one pitch in the zone. I know Ryan was on first base and he can't run for to score from first, but he did it. That's good for the team, good for me because it was an important RBI in the situation because it feels great.

"Especially on this day, Mother's Day, I think if I remember, that's my first mother's day game, so I mean it feels great. Now, (I) got my daughter last year, and play this game for my mom and my wife, so that made me feel very excited."

Right fielder Bryce Harper didn't homer for the first time in four games, but he went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first. Of course, yesterday he provided the heroics with a walk-off blast. However, today it was a ball Harper lost in the Nats Park "sun monster" that led to the Braves taking a one run lead in the seventh. Harper was plenty excited after for the fortitude displayed by his teammates to once again overcome late-inning adversity.

"We have the confidence in every single guy in this team," Harper said. "If one guy's not going to get it done, the other guy's going to get it done. We're going to battle 'til the end - if we're down, if we're up or if we're ahead. We're gonna battle and keep it going every single day."

Zimmerman, the 10-year veteran, provided his explanation for why the Nats don't fold when trailing down the stretch.

"We're lucky," Zimmerman said. "We have a bunch of guys who have had a chance to play in the big leagues for a while and don't get out of their rhythm or try to do too much at the end of the game, which is what gets you in trouble. So I think it's more experience, being in those situations obviously helps the more you're in them, the more you're able to just stay relaxed and don't let the pressure get to you."

"You're not supposed to get hits off the guys that come in seventh, eighth, ninth inning, especially now. All those guys are pretty good. So you put a little pressure on them, and just got out there with a relaxed approach and do what you want to do."

The sweep of the Braves gives the Nats a 5-1 record at home over the past week as they prepare for seven games out west against the Diamondbacks and Padres.

"This homestand, that's pretty good for the team," Ramos said. "We're more excited right now because (we're) winning. We're doing a really good job. All the guys doing a really good job also. Going on the road after this homestand, it's really good for the team because we've got a lot of energy, feeling great right now. It's' good for the team."

Williams announced after the game that right-hander Max Scherzer will start tomorrow's game in Arizona followed by Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday and lefty Gio Gonzalez on Wednesday.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar left today's game after the third inning with a stomach bug. Escobar was 1-for-2 before exiting.