Braves offense shows up to prevent sweep by Nats, win 6-2

We saw the good Aaron Harang today and...some actual offense!

Harang went seven innings and Atlanta's bats came to life for the first time in a long time, salvaging a win against the Nats 6-2.

Stephen Strasburg started for the Nats, and we know how much the Braves have owned Strasburg in the past. There was more of the same today, but no one crossed the plate until the fifth when B.J. Upton hit the first pitch of the fifth inning for a home run. It was B.J.'s 11th home run of the year, his third against the Nats and second off Strasburg.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Denard Span was at third after a pair of singles. The first pitch to Jayson Werth was a slider in the dirt, but Christian Bethancourt failed to block the ball adequately and Span scored the tying run. He would make up for that later.

Freddie Freeman led off the sixth with a double and scored when Justin Upton's single hit off Adam LaRoche's glove and bounced into right field. Later in the inning after Justin was caught stealing, Tommy La Stella doubled with two outs and after a wild pitch, scored on Bethancourt's single to right.

Atlanta padded the lead in the seventh against Washington's bullpen. Jerry Blevins entered the game for the Nats and loaded the bases with no outs; Harang led off the inning with a single (!). Heyward singled and Gosselin, then Freddie Freeman hit a sacrifice fly to right that Jayson Werth snagged with a leaping grab. That minimized the damage temporarily because after another pitching change, Justin Upton doubled to left, scoring Heyward and Gosselin.

Bryce Harper homered in the ninth off Craig Kimbrel. Harang struck out nine in seven innings (some of those strikes were very generous) and did not walk a batter.

Win Expectancy