Braves go long to grab early lead on Gonzalez (Braves win 7-4)

ATLANTA - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez managed to get through the first inning, but he was taxed.

The Braves managed two hits in the frame. Gonzalez tossed more than 20 pitches to get out of the jam.

In the second, Johan Camargo singled to lead off. After one out, Dansby Swanson launched a first-pitch, two-run shot over the left-center field wall and the Braves lead 2-0. It was Swanson's fourth homer of the season. Gonzalez is up to 40 pitches after two innings.

The Nationals' only hit so far was by Ryan Zimmerman, a single, came in the second inning and was wiped out by a double play off the bat of Daniel Murphy. R.A. Dickey struck out Bryce Harper to end the first.

After two innings, the Braves lead the Nationals 2-0.

Update: The Nationals came back in the third. With one out, Michael A. Taylor doubled to center field wall. With two outs, Trea Turner smacked an RBI single to short that scored Taylor. After a walk to Jayson Werth in which he fought back from an 0-2 count, Harper laced a hot shot past first baseman Jace Peterson down the line to score two runs. Peterson was charged with an error and the Nats lead 3-2.

Mid-third in Atlanta, the Nationals lead by one run.

Update II: A solo homer by Matt Kemp in the bottom of the third tied the score 3-3.

Update III: Daniel Murphy homered in the top of the fourth to put the Nats back on top, 4-3.

Update IV: The Nationals loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, thanks to a walk by Zimmerman, a double by Murphy and a walk by Anthony Rendon. Rendon's at-bat was impressive because he faced 14 straight knuckleballs and fouled off nine of them before earning the walk.

Mid-fifth, the Nationals lead the Braves 4-3.

Update V: Gonzalez struggled a bit in the fifth. With one out, Nick Markakis grounded into a fielder's choice. Kemp walked. Former Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki doubled to center field to score Markakis. Gonzalez rebounded by striking out the last two batters to end the threat.

After five innings, the Braves and the Nationals are tied at 4-4.

Update VI: With Braves threatening in the sixth, the Nationals put together their best defensive play of the game. With Swanson on second base, Inciarte singled to deep center. Taylor gathered the ball and threw home. Wieters caught the throw and tagged out Swanson at the plate. Gonzalez was lifted. The Braves pulled off a double steal on Matt Grace. But he then got Markakis to ground out to end the inning.

Gonzalez finished 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with three walks, striking out five. He fired 116 pitches, 72 for strikes.

The game is still even at 4-4 in the middle of the seventh.

Update VII: Markakis had the tie-breaking-run-scoring single in the eighth. But the biggest hit came from Suzuki, who hit a two-run shot over the left field wall. All the runs came off of reliever Enny Romero.

The Nationals were unable to get a man on in the ninth against Jim Johnson.

Final score: Braves 7, Nationals 4. The Nationals have lost three in a row.