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If things weren't going poorly enough by the seventh inning for the Nationals, when Atlanta expanded its lead to 5-1 on some shoddy Washington defense, they got even worse in the eighth. The Nationals allowed six runs in the inning, with Brian Broderick and Chad Gaudin each getting drilled, and they ended the day with an 11-2 loss to the Braves.
The defeat cost the Nationals a chance to win the series, and dropped them to 1-2 for the season before their first road trip of the year.
Broderick, making his big league debut, gave up four runs in 2/3 of an inning, balking in a run when he delivered toward home but didn't release the ball, effectively pump-faking toward the plate. Gaudin pitched to five batters, allowing four hits and two runs.
And Tim Hudson continued his mastery of the Nationals, giving up just three hits and a run in seven innings of work. Even if the Nationals' defense and bullpen hadn't come undone today, it's unlikely they would have done enough offensively to beat the Braves the way Hudson was pitching.
The Nationals' next game is Tuesday night in Miami, with Jason Marquis opposing Anibal Sanchez.
