Atlanta Braves Find Offense To Beat Nats, 5-2

After having a horrid weekend against the less-talented San Diego Padres, the Monday tragic shootings in Washington and then the debacle Tuesday during the double header against the Nationals, the Braves get a much needed victory Wednesday night beating the Nationals 5-2.

The offense has seemed like it’s been on vacation the past week – not being able to get anything going and for the first 5 innings of last nights game, it looked like we were on the same path.

Sep 18, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman

(right) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

But then the man who was suppose to step up to be the Braves leader after the retirement of Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla belted his 22nd home run of the season with a deep fly ball to left field.

Could this one homer sparked a flame underneath the Braves offense?  Lets hope so…

On the first pitch of the 6th inning Dan crushed Ross Ohlendorf‘s fastball over the fence.

“He throws a lot of heaters,” Uggla said after the game.  “If he’s trying to get ahead, I’m going to see if I get put a good swing on something to get us back in it.”

Justin Upton followed Uggla’s homer with his own on a line drive to left center field that scored Jordan Schafer – Braves were now up 3-2 and went on to added two more runs including a Brian McCann RBI double off the center field wall that scored a pitch runner, Andrelton Simmons.  Braves win 5-2 in a much needed win.

“The win was huge, the came back and took one from us the first game yesterday and we couldn’t get anything going in the second game,” Uggla said.  “It’s nice to close this out and get the last game against them.  We really wanted to end it on a good note.”

“We knew we had to get this one,” Braves outfielderJustin Upton said.  “We struggled at home [this past weekend against the Padres].  We struggled yesterday in the first two games of the series.  This was a big one for us today and the guys stepped up.”

Looking back to the 5th inning, Alex Wood had the bases loaded and made a terrific 3-2 pitch that should have been called a strike but wasn’t – Jayson Werth walked in a run.  Wood was fired up and yelling at home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor…this extended to Fredi Gonzalez coming out of the dugout to protect his pitcher.  Gonzalez got tossed and the a batter later, Wood gets tossed after coming out of the game.

Sep 18, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher

(58) yells at home plate umpire CB Buckner (not pictured) after coming out of the game in the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

After the game Wood spoke on what happened and apologized to Bucknor, “It was one of those things that my emotions got the best of me today and a lot of that was because it was a big situation and I thought the call could of gone another way and I did something things and said some things that I shouldn’t of and I immediately regretted once I got inside.  I thought I made a good pitch but I didn’t and I reacted probably the complete opposite than what I should of.  I regret it, I have no hard feelings with C.B. and hopefully I see him soon and give him my apologies for acting the way I did.”

Uggla spoke on some of the bad calls Bucknor made on Wednesday, “Everyone will have their own opinion when a close call happens and you’re going to be mad about it.  That is what’s awesome about this game, is having that human element and having that displeasure about some things because you’re going to have things go your way and others that don’t go your way but that’s one of the awesome things about this game.”

10 games remain for the Braves who are still looking to win the division and win home field advantage for the 2013 playoffs.  A much needed off day on Thursday and back at it on Friday against the Chicago Cubs.

A message from our first baseman….

“We’ve got to learn how to finish,” Upton said. “That’s one thing you’ve got to learn how to do, to finish. Until we win these next two and this thing is over with, it’s not done. So we’ve got to finish.”

When asked about his struggles this season and how good it felt to hit that bomb Uggla responded with, “Perfect….but what do you mean, I’ve been crushing it?” (obviously everyone laughs) “Yeah, it was good to get back in there and put some good swings on some pitches.  I really felt good and really looking forward to finishing out this thing that we started.”