The Braves broke out the homerun ball for the win against the Nationals on Wednesday night to sweep the 2-game series. Atlanta got homeruns from Garret Anderson, Martin Prado, and two from Adam LaRoche -- who now has 3 HR in his frist 35 at-bats back in a Braves uniform (Casey Kotchman had 8 HRs in 450 at-bats during his 2 years with Atlanta). The Braves also added two runs in the eighth on bases loaded walks. If you're keeping track at home, that's 4 solo homeruns and 2 bases loaded walks -- a strange way to score all your runs.
Starting pitcher Derek Lowe once again managed his way through 7 innings of good-enough work -- 7 hits, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. There were some innings where he really struggled, and there were other innings where he looked unhittable. But this is what Lowe gives you -- starts where he goes deep into the game and gives you a chance to win. That's Lowe's 12th win, good enough to rank second (tied) in the NL.
The game ended in pretty cool fashion, and something you don't see everyday. With a runner on second and Nyjer Morgan at first, Mike Gonzalez deliverd the pitch. Morgan had wandered pretty far off of first, remember, there is someone in front of him at second, so there's no reason to be 15 feet off first. Adam LaRoche snuck in behind Morgan and Brian McCann gunned a throw down to first after the pitch was delivered. Morgan was picked off to end the game.