Adams has AC sprain, Suzuki to take swings in St. Louis (Nats win 7-0)

First baseman Matt Adams has missed two games after tweaking his left shoulder/triceps region Thursday night in Minnesota.

But manager Davey Martinez's update Sunday revealed a more serious injury.

"Matt Adams has an AC sprain," Martinez said. "So, he's going to be day-to-day. I talked to him yesterday. He's just a bit sore. He's getting some medication. So hopefully in the next few days we'll see where he's at."

Adams has been a crucial power bat off the bench and filled in for long stretches at first base while Ryan Zimmerman recovered from plantar fasciitis. Adams has 20 homers and 56 RBIs this season, but has cooled down to just a .226 batting average and .278 OBP.

Without Kurt Suzuki available, Yan Gomes returns to make his second start catching veteran Aníbal Sánchez. Suzuki had made 27 straight starts for Sánchez, but Martinez said Gomes adapted well.

"I thought he did really well," Martinez said. "I thought Yan adapted really well. I know he talked to Suzuki about how to catch him, what he looks for in different situations. They worked really well together. This is the second time they are going to be together so hopefully it goes the same."

Suzuki injured his elbow last week in the series at Atlanta and has not played since. Martinez said Suzuki could take some swings on the field at St. Louis early this week.

"He's been swinging the bat," Martinez said. "No throwing yet but he's feeling a little bit better. He is going to try to hit I think tomorrow or the next day on the field and then we'll go from there."

Raudy Read caught Saturday's game and Tres Barrera made his first pinch-hit appearance late in the game.

"He's one of our young, up-and-coming prospect catchers," Martinez said of Barrera. "He had a good year. We brought him up here. We wanted third catcher. He was the guy. We believe that he can help us out not only now but in the future."

Update: On Sept. 5, Braves lefty starter Max Fried befuddled the Nats with seven shutout innings where he allowed only a first inning single by Anthony Rendon and nothing else in a 4-2 win. He struck out nine and walked none.

Two starts later, the Nats face Fried again. This time the Nats got to the southpaw early on with two runs in the second inning. Howie Kendrick singled, Victor Robles doubled and Gomes brought them home with a two-run single to right field.

Sánchez has given up only a two-out double to Freddie Freeman in three innings against Atlanta.

In the third, Trea Turner and Rendon singled off Fried. Kendrick then dropped in a two-run single to center field. After Fried was lifted following a walk to Brian Dozier, Jeremy Walker walked Robles when the bases were loaded to bring in another run.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Braves 5-0.

Update III: Kendrick crushed a 2-0 pitch from Braves reliever Grant Dayton over the left field wall. His 15th homer on the season was his third hit on the day to go with three RBIs.

After five innings, the Nats lead the Braves 6-0.

Update IV: Against Anthony Swarzak in sixth, the bases were loaded thanks to base hits by Robles and Sánchez and a walk to Turner. With one out, Adam Eaton grounded into a fielder's choice 3-6-5 double play, but Robles scored from third.

After six innings, the Nats lead the Braves 7-0.

Update V: Sánchez was the boss, going seven shutout frames, allowing only three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 109 pitches, 67 for strikes. Hunter Strickland took over in the eighth.

After seven innings, the Nats lead the Braves 7-0.

Update VI: Strickland allowed a base hit but struck out two in firing a shutout eighth. Sean Doolittle allowed a long fly ball to deep center field by Freeman to lead off the top of the ninth, but Robles tracked it down as he bumped into the wall. Josh Donaldson flew out to right field. Nick Markakis, who had seven hits in the series, flew out to right field to end thas game.

Final score: the Nats 7, the Braves 0.