Bryce Harper hit his second homer in two days, Gio Gonzalez gave up only one hit in seven innings and the Nationals beat the struggling Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep.
When the Washington Nationals packed up and left D.C. last Sunday afternoon, they did so knowing what was in front of them. Three division rivals, nine games, 10 days. It was part challenge, part opportunity.
Davey Johnson's gait Friday night was a bit slower than usual, the Washington Nationals manager dealing with a lingering toe injury. For Ross Detwiler, it just meant he had longer to stare at the man who came to end his night.
John Smoltz's career got off to a rocky start. By the time he was done, it was good enough to ensure no one ever wears his number again for the Atlanta Braves.
"The Amazing Race" took its final three teams on a frantic scramble through Atlanta during Sunday's conclusion of the CBS competition show.
"The Amazing Race" took its final three teams on a frantic scramble through Atlanta during Sunday's conclusion of the CBS competition show.
Hours before the Nationals would lose their 72nd game of the 2011 season, their manager was asked one simple question in the visitors' dugout at Turner Field. What does he want to see out his team in the season's final month? "Swing the bat better," Davey Johnson said.
Standing on third base Tuesday night, Livan Hernandez was the picture of calm. Two innings before, he’d thrown the 50,000th pitch of his career and he joked now with Braves third baseman Chipper Jones that he almost didn’t make it to second base moments earlier. His slow trot, when he saw he’d hit an automatic double into the left field corner, got him there in what he estimated to be 18 lengthy seconds.
Two rookies came through in key situations to help Atlanta's Tim Hudson beat Arizona's Josh Collmenter.
