A positive in defeat

ATLANTA — If ever a ballclub could suffer a 4-1 loss and still walk away encouraged, this was it.

Surely, the Washington Nationals would have preferred to beat a struggling Atlanta Braves team last night. Once the most-feared organization in the National League East, the Braves now have a lineup that had produced one run over the last five games and two superstars (Chipper Jones and John Smoltz) engaged in a made-for-TV clubhouse feud.

So this three-run loss before a crowd of 25,375 at Turner Field was, at the very least, disappointing.

Months from now, the Nationals might not remember how they were handcuffed by right-hander Tim Hudson for seven innings or beaten by catcher Brian McCann, who homered and drove in all four of Atlanta’s runs. They will, however, remember how good Jason Bergmann looked in his return to the starting rotation. And if the right-hander still is pitching like this in August and September, the Nationals can look to tonight as a starting point.

“We’ve got to look at it tonight as a success,” catcher Brian Schneider said. “Because he didn’t have any setbacks.”

Fresh off a six-week stint on the disabled list because of inflammation in his right elbow, Bergmann looked as strong as he did the last time he faced major league competition. He allowed one run over four innings, struck out four, didn’t walk a batter and — most importantly — looked healthy.

“Right now, [the elbow] feels great, and that’s really good,” he said. “Tomorrow, I’m confident it will be just fine.”

Thus, a day that began with the news shortstop Cristian Guzman will miss the rest of the season with a torn thumb ligament ended on a somewhat-uplifting note. The first of Washington’s four injured starting pitchers to come off the DL did quite well.

The Nationals were optimistic with Bergmann starting last night for the first time since May 14 but didn’t know what to expect from him.

On a closely monitored pitch count, Bergmann was just about what the Nationals wanted. His velocity was back in the low 90s, and his breaking balls had the same kind of bite that made him the majors’ toughest pitcher to hit through the season’s first two months.

“He looked tremendous,” manager Manny Acta said. “I’m excited. … His composure out there and the way he threw the ball so free, that’s what makes me happy.”

It’s still going to take Bergmann (1-4, 2.72 ERA) a few starts to get his stamina back, and that much was obvious last night. Though he dominated, the 25-year-old started to fade in the fourth inning. He allowed a pair of singles, then with runners on the corners and two outs gave up a line-drive RBI single to left to McCann.

That was the only run Atlanta managed off Bergmann, but it still ended his night. At 76 pitches and showing signs of fatigue, he was pulled in favor of left-hander Billy Traber, satisfied with his strong return to the rotation but disappointed to leave the game trailing 1-0.

“I’m confident that the next time out I’ll be a lot more equipped to go deeper into the game,” Bergmann said.

Traber got off to a great start, striking out three of the first four batters he faced. But he allowed a sixth-inning double to Edgar Renteria, and then with two outs and slumping slugger Andruw Jones at the plate, he faced a crucial decision: pitch around Jones and go after the left-handed McCann or take a chance with the .198-hitting Jones?

The Nationals elected to throw cautiously to Jones, using strictly offspeed pitches, and hope he would chase one. But Traber missed with three straight offerings, so Acta decided not to take any more chances and intentionally threw ball four.

Traber, though, couldn’t get McCann. He fell behind in the count and then left a curveball down and in to the left-handed hitter. McCann blasted it off the top of the right-field fence for a three-run homer, the deciding blow in the ballgame.

“Obviously, Andruw has the potential to make things hurt, but obviously McCann does too,” Traber said. “We wanted to throw to McCann, and unfortunately, what are you going to do?”

Washington was quiet after that, totaling 13 strikeouts against Hudson (7-5) and relievers Rafael Soriano and Bob Wickman (13th save). Thus, the Braves celebrated in the middle of the diamond at night’s end, ecstatic to have something positive to talk about after a difficult week.

The Nationals, meanwhile, trudged up the tunnel to their clubhouse, disappointed with this loss but perhaps quietly encouraged by the one thing that did go right.

“I’m just glad to be back in the mix now,” Bergmann said. “It’s been tough watching the guys doing so well, and now I’m hoping I can contribute again.”