Braves power way past lifeless Nationals

Ward said he departed town on amicable terms with the Nationals, and several ex-teammates spoke highly of him last night. But he wasn’t ashamed to take some satisfaction out of striking back against them and helping his new team win.

“Yeah, there’s always going to be some sense of revenge,” Ward said. “You can’t lie about that or hold it back. You do want to put it to them. To get a hit like that is a point on my side.”

The Nationals could have used Ward’s bat last night. With regulars Ryan Zimmerman and Brian Schneider on the bench, Robinson’s lineup was lacking some punch, and it showed. Aside from Nook Logan’s second-inning sacrifice fly, Washington was rendered helpless by Braves starter Kyle Davies (3-5) and three relievers.

The Nationals’ only real shot against Davies came in the fourth, when two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs. But rookie Melvin Dorta, starting at third base in place of Zimmerman, popped out to second to kill that potential rally and leave the Nationals scrambling to try to put something together.

Their only other shot came in the seventh, when they again loaded the bases with two outs, this time against reliever Oscar Villarreal. Villarreal, though, struck out shortstop Felipe Lopez on a 3-2 pitch, and Washington went quietly into the night.

“We had a chance. We loaded the bases,” Fick said. “I’m not pointing the fingers at anybody. We just collectively didn’t get the big hit tonight.”