Braves Refuse to Harp on Bryce and Clown Nats, 2-1

About the only interesting things in this game revolved around Bryce Harper.

With one out in the bottom of third, Bryce Harper sent a poorly placed fastball about 420 feet in the direction of center field. It was a shot, for sure, but Harper admired the shot and gave a bat flip. It wasn't really anything worse than what the Braves' hitters have been doing all season, but it caused a fracas, of sorts.

During Bryce's next at-bat, Teheran promptly hit Harper in the thigh with a fastball, and Harper immediately dropped a few f-bombs on the way down to first. Benches and bullpens cleared, but no one got close enough to anyone else to really do anything. Was the HBP intentional? It's unclear, but it looked to be so. Harper did admire the home run, and Teheran hit him with a fastball on the first pitch. It was either intentional or a really big coincidence, which is a possibility to be fair. But I'd be shocked if a Braves hitter doesn't walk out of tomorrow's game with a bruise.

But that would be all the offense for the Nationals. Teheran went 6 strong innings, giving up 4 hits while striking out 4 and walking 2. Avilan made things interesting in the 7th by loading the bases, but he got Adam LaRoche to ground out weakly to end the threat. Jordan Walden and Craig Kimbrel dominated the Nationals the rest of the way, striking out all 6 batters faced.

As for the Braves offense, it all came in the 5th. B.J. Upton, who had a couple hits and stolen bases in this one, singled and stole a base before Andrelton Simmons walked. Teheran bunted them over to put men on second and third with two outs. Evan Gattis, in for Jason Heyward - more on that in a minute - laced a single over LaRoche's head to bring in both runners.

Going back to Heyward, he sprained his neck on a hard swing on the second pitch of the game. Considering the lead and that Heyward stayed in to finish the at-bat, I don't think it's serious. If I had to bet, he'll sit out tomorrow for precautionary reasons and be back on Friday.

No Win Expectancy Chart Tonight - Not Functioning Apparently

Win Expectancy Chart