(SportsNetwork.com) – The Washington Nationals look to build on an improbable
rally and pick up a much-needed series victory on Wednesday night when they
play the final contest of a three-game set with the rival Atlanta Braves.
An 8-4 loss in Monday’s opener stretched the Nationals’ losing streak to six
straight games and they appeared well on their way to another setback when
they trailed last night’s contest 9-1 after just two innings.
However, Washington chipped away and Dan Uggla’s three-run homer in the ninth
inning against his former club propelled the Nats to an incredible 13-12 win.
His go-ahead blast off Braves closer Jason Grilli was his first homer as a
National and one of 32 combined hits in the game between the NL East rivals.
He knocked in five runs.
“We were down so much and we kept coming back,” Uggla said after knocking in
five runs in all. “This ballpark is a pretty special place to me.”
Denard Span had a career high-tying five hits, including a solo home run that
knocked Braves starter Julio Teheran out of the game in the sixth inning.
Span, who scored four times, led off three different innings with hits. Jose
Lobaton added a three-run blast in the victory.
Freddie Freeman and A.J. Pierzynski fueled Atlanta’s offense with four hits
apiece. Freeman scored three times and Pierzynski drove in four runs, but
Atlanta lost for the sixth time in eight games.
“At the end, you can see that it was a bad outing,” Teheran said. “This is one
bad game.”
Getting the call tonight for the Nationals with a chance at a series win will
be Jordan Zimmermann, who is 1-2 with a 5.23 earned run average.
Zimmermann avoided a third straight losing start with a no-decision at Miami
on Friday. The righty limited the Marlins to a pair of runs on six hits over
six innings, striking out four without giving up a walk in his club’s 3-2
loss.
Zimmermann is 4-2 lifetime against the Braves with a 2.93 ERA in 10 starts.
Atlanta’s Alex Wood takes the mound tonight having not gotten a decision since
his season-opening win over Miami on April 7.
The left-handed Wood is coming off a no-decision in Philadelphia on Friday in
which he logged 5 2/3 scoreless innings. However, the Braves lost 1-0 when the
Phillies scored in the ninth inning.
Wood, who has a 3.00 ERA on the year, is 3-1 lifetime versus the Nats with a
1.49 ERA in six starts. He has held Washington to six runs and four homers
over 36 1/3 innings, striking out 44.
The Braves went 11-8 against the Nats last season.
