Scherzer can't put Braves away early, falls 7-1

Scherzer can't put Braves away early, falls 7-1
ATLANTA - The Braves took advantage of an early fielding mistake by the Nationals and a rare uneven performance from Max Scherzer in a 7-1 series-clinching victory at SunTrust Park on Wednesday. It was the first series loss of the season for the Nats. Both teams are 4-2, and are tied for second place in the National League East. Spurred by another three-run homer from Preston Tucker, the Braves raced out to a 3-0 lead. Tucker had a three-run shot in Tuesday's 13-6 Atlanta victory. Tucker got...
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Braves get to Scherzer early after costly Difo error (Nats fall 7-1)

Braves get to Scherzer early after costly Difo error (Nats fall 7-1)
ATLANTA - Game 3 of the series has been filled with a couple surprises in the first inning. Nothing surprising, but the Nationals got something going in the first. Surprisingly, they couldn't finish off the frame with runs scored. Facing Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz, Anthony Rendon singled and Bryce Harper walked with one away. Matt Adams struck out. After a wild pitch, Trea Turner was called out on strikes to end the threat. Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer allowed a double by Freddie...
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Cole gets dismantled as Nats fall for first time this season 13-6

Cole gets dismantled as Nats fall for first time this season 13-6
ATLANTA - Right-hander A.J. Cole struggled with consistency in his first start and the Braves took full advantage. Highlighted by a pair of three-run homers from Preston Tucker and Freddie Freeman, Atlanta scored nine runs in the first three innings and cruised to an emphatic 13-6 win. It was the Nationals' first loss of the season. The Braves pounded out 15 hits, including two homers and four doubles. It was the most runs the Nats had allowed since a 13-0 loss to Atlanta July 8, 2017 at Nats...
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Martinez on lineup, Cole, Murphy, Hellickson and more

Martinez on lineup, Cole, Murphy, Hellickson and more
ATLANTA - The pregame drama for the Nationals and their 4-0 record was manager Davey Martinez submitting a lineup that originally had Bryce Harper batting second. About a half an hour later, Martinez switched the lineup back to Anthony Rendon at No. 2 and Harper in the No. 3 hole. "That was a misprint," Martinez said. "That's something I thought about. I kind of construct lineups a few days in advance. It's something that I was thinking about looking at and I must have said it. When I...
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Game 5 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 5 lineups: Nats at Braves
ATLANTA - Right-hander A.J. Cole wants to be just like his buddies. The first four starters for the Nationals were 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA and the offense has provided their pitching staff with a league-leading 29 runs. The Nats pitching staff has allowed only 13 runs and other than the them, the Pirates are the only undefeated teams remaining at 4-0. Cole's major league debut came here in Atlanta back in 2015. The Nats made a miraculous comeback on April 28, 2015 to win 13-12 but Cole struggled...
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Opposite dugout: Braves hoping to turn tide against Nationals

Opposite dugout: Braves hoping to turn tide against Nationals
Manager: Brian Snitkner (3rd season) Record: 2-1 Who to watch (2017 stats): 1B Freddie Freeman (.307/.403/.586 with 28 HR, 71 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.304, 22 SB), RF Nick Markakis (.275, 76 RBIs), RHP Julio Teheran (11-13, 4.49 ERA), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (.283 ERA, 14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (9-10 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 2: RHP Tanner Roark (13-11, 4.67 ERA in 2017) vs. LHP Sean Newcomb (4-9, 4.32 ERA in 2017), 7:35 p.m., MASN2 April 3: RHP A.J. Cole...
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Nationals clear favorites to win NL East, but must win in postseason

Nationals clear favorites to win NL East, but must win in postseason
After losing four Division Series in the last six seasons, the Nationals go into the season a clear favorite to win the National League East. Last season, they won the division by 20 games over the second-place Marlins. No team has ever won consecutive division titles by at least 20 games. Maybe the Nationals will be the first. Miami, though, is the odds-on favorite to finish last. That leaves the Phillies, Mets and Braves to battle for second place. If the Mets get a healthy rotation, they'll...
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Checking in on the NL East before the Winter Meetings

Checking in on the NL East before the Winter Meetings
Baseball's Winter Meetings start Monday in Orlando, and while a slow-moving market has defined the offseason so far, that doesn't mean that deals - and endless speculation about deals that aren't going to happen - won't start making headlines in the Magic Kingdom. The Nationals are the defending National League East champions with 97 victories and it would be difficult to see why they wouldn't be the favorites to win the division in 2018, thanks to a rotation that has 2017 NL Cy Young...
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Opposite dugout: Braves hoping to finish season on a high note

Opposite dugout: Braves hoping to finish season on a high note
Manager: Brian Snitker (2nd season) Record: 67-81 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.318 with 27 HR, 69 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.305 with 190 hits, 23 2B), RF Nick Markakis (.276 with 150 hits, 36 2B), LHP Sean Newcomb (3-8, 2.73 ERA), RHP Arodys Vizcaíno (5-3, 11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 8-8 Pitching probables: Sep. 19: RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP Luiz Gohara, 7:35 p.m., MASN2Sep. 20: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Lucas Sims, 7:35 p.m., MASN2Sep. 21: RHP Tanner Roark...
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Robles shows off lightning speed as Nats drop Braves

Robles shows off lightning speed as Nats drop Braves
September call-ups can give baseball fans a glimpse into the future of their club, teasing them for what might be in the next season - or for years to come. But when your top prospect comes up and is only 20, it might be too much pressure to put on his shoulders to deliver in his first few games at the sport's top level. That is certainly not the case for Victor Robles. On Thursday, Robles went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and an electrifying triple that had Nats Park in a frenzy as...
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Freeman sets tone versus Gonzalez (Braves win 8-0)

Freeman sets tone versus Gonzalez (Braves win 8-0)
The Braves came out quickly against left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Matt Kemp delivered a run-scoring single to put the Braves up 1-0 in the first inning. Then, in the third inning, Ender Inciarte walked. Ozzie Albies singled. Michael A. Taylor bobbled the ball in center field and threw high and late to third base. Inciarte moved to third and Albies to second. Taylor was tagged with a fielding error. Freddie Freeman then crushed a three-run shot to deep center field. His 26th homer of the year...
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Opposite dugout: Braves floating on string of walk-off wins

Opposite dugout: Braves floating on string of walk-off wins
Manager: Brian Snitker (2nd year) Record: 64-78 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (25 HR, 30 doubles), CF Ender Inciarte (21 SB), RF Nick Markakis (69 RBIs, 36 doubles), RHP José Ramírez (25 holds), RHP Arodys Vizcaíno (10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 6-7 Pitching probables: Sept. 12: RHP Julio Teheran vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 13: LHP Luiz Gohara vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 14: RHP Mike Foltynewicz vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05...
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Opposite dugout: Freeman's return gives Braves a glimmer of hope

Opposite dugout: Freeman's return gives Braves a glimmer of hope
Manager: Brian Snitker (2nd year) Record: 40-43 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (49-for-143, 14 HR), C Tyler Flowers (.319/.412/.459) LF Matt Kemp (21 doubles, 12 HR) CF Ender Inciarte (11 stolen bases) RF Nick Markakis (42 RBIs), RHP Jim Johnson (18 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5 Pitching probables: July 6: RHP Mike Foltynewicz vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 7: RHP R.A. Dickey vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 8: RHP Julio Teheran vs. RHP...
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Ross felt he was just "OK" in no-decision

Ross felt he was just "OK" in no-decision
The Nationals dropped the Braves 10-5, thanks to another offensive outburst that included a five-run sixth inning and 14 hits overall. Right-hander Joe Ross was unable to hold an early 3-0 advantage as the Braves scored five runs to take the lead into the bottom of the sixth. But the Nationals rallied again, thanks to a two-homer three-RBI performance by Ryan Zimmerman to snap a four-game skid. Manager Dusty Baker said the big bats against Braves knuckleballer R.A. Dickey provided some relief...
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Baseballs flying out of Nats Park again (Nats win 10-5)

Baseballs flying out of Nats Park again (Nats win 10-5)
What is going on at Nationals Park in mid-June to baseballs in 91 degree weather? On Monday night in the series opener between Washington and Atlanta, eight homers left the field of play, five by the Braves. On Tuesday night, the Nationals cranked back-to-back homers in the first inning, starting it all with a triple by Ryan Raburn. Bryce Harper's groundout scored Raburn and the Nats led 1-0. Ryan Zimmerman returned to the lineup with authority, crushing an R.A. Dickey offering over the...
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Home run barrage to begin game (Braves win 11-10)

Home run barrage to begin game (Braves win 11-10)
Offense for both teams is being ignited quickly in the series opener. The most surprising moment in the first inning was seeing Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowing back-to-back homers. Ender Inciarte led off the game with a single for the Braves. With one out, Nick Markakis took a 1-0 offering over the fence in left. It was only his second homer of the season and the two-run shot gave the Braves a 2-0 lead. Matt Kemp followed with another homer, his 11th on the season. Suddenly,...
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Opposite dugout: Braves starters have struggled but might have turned a corner

Opposite dugout: Braves starters have struggled but might have turned a corner
Manager: Brian Snitker (2nd year) Record: 27-35 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C Tyler Flowers (.343/.450/.455), LF Matt Kemp (.326/.361/.549, 10 home runs, 31 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.299/.354/.414, 10 stolen bases), RF Nick Markakis (.284/.361/.369, 15 doubles, 32 RBIs), RHP Jim Johnson (4-1, 3.38 ERA, 12 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-4 Pitching probables: June 12: RHP Mike Foltynewicz vs RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 13: RHP R.A. Dickey vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m.,...
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Glover feeds off Strasburg, looks comfortable as closer

Glover feeds off Strasburg, looks comfortable as closer
ATLANTA - All the issues the Nationals had faced during their four-game skid, which included laboring starters and a bullpen that couldn't close the door, almost completely vanished Sunday afternoon as the Nationals found a way to stop the Braves 3-2. Stephen Strasburg pitched 7 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high 11 batters and allowing only two runs. Koda Glover, who was going to close Friday night if the Nationals had a late lead, came in and notched a four-out save. Strasburg came...
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Strasburg strikes out 11 as Nats end losing streak 3-2

Strasburg strikes out 11 as Nats end losing streak 3-2
ATLANTA - When things get a little rough around the edges, the Nationals turn to their streak-buster. Stephen Strasburg came within one out of pitching eight innings and surrendered only two runs. He struck out a season-high 11 against one walk, scattering five hits as the Nationals edged the Braves 3-2. The win snapped a season-high four-game losing streak. "You can't really let what happened the day prior affect what you do out there," Strasburg said. "I just wanted to go out there and...
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Murphy's power earns early advantage for Strasburg (Nats win 3-2)

Murphy's power earns early advantage for Strasburg (Nats win 3-2)
ATLANTA - The Nationals are seeing Braves left-hander Jaime García well to begin this one. Wilmer Difo hit a long triple in the first inning. In the second frame, Daniel Murphy led off with a solo homer to center field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was his ninth homer of the season and third in the past four games. Later in the inning, Michael A. Taylor singled and stole second. But Jose Lobaton grounded out and Stephen Strasburg struck out swinging. Strasburg has put down the Braves...
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