Braves Beat Nats for 13th Consecutive Win

The Braves came out swinging and pitching and those have been the two components that have won ball games recently. With Jordan Zimmerman on the mound for the Washington Nationals today, the Braves were in for a challenge but didn't choke. In the top of the first inning, Jason Heyward led off the game with his 15th double of the season. With out out, Freddie Freeman lined a single to center scoring Heyward from second. Braves pitcher Kris Medlen had a perfect three innings to start the game against the Nationals and even helped himself out with a sac fly in the fourth to give him a 2-0 lead. The Nationals fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth with Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth's two run homer to right center field. The game remained tied until the seventh when Braves outfielder Justin Upton hit out his 21st home run, a solo shot, to give the Braves the lead again. But once again the Nationals fought back when Ian Desmond reached on a fielder's choice. Desmond's knock came with runners on the corners and one out. He hit a soft grounder to short which was fielded cleanly and the Braves got the runner at second. The throw to first was wild and the tying run came in to score.

The Braves were not ready to give up. In the eighth inning, a two-out rally began when their eighth hitter, Andrelton Simmons, doubled. Pinch hitter Joey Terdoslavich walked, and Jason Heyward delivered the big hit with a go-ahead single to right field. Justin Upton proceeded to double in Terdoslavich and Heyward to give the Braves a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. Although the bottom of the eighth went smoothly, closer Craig Kimbrel found himself in some trouble with the Nationals in the ninth. After giving up a double and two walks, he had the bases loaded and Wilson Ramos at the plate. The winning run was at the plate and the tying run at first. Anything to a gap could tie the game. Kimbrel hit his spot perfectly at 99 miles per hour and got Ramos to reach for a pitch a line one to right field. Heyward made the catch and the game was over.

The Atlanta Braves have now won 13 straight and are up fifteen and a half games in their division and have the best record in baseball. They are also the first team to reach 70 wins.