Game Recap: Atlanta Braves Fall In Extras 2-1 to the Washington Nationals

The Atlanta Braves lost on Wednesday evening 2-1 to the Washington Nationals in 11 innings.  The Braves have now lost seven in a row to the Nationals and fall four games back in the NL East division.  Atlanta is now 35-37 in the 2015 season.

Atlanta’s offense is getting the hits, they totaled 10 on Wednesday, but only scored one run for the third game in a row.

“We had a lot of people on base and did a good job against (Drew) Storen in the 9th inning, but we just didn’t get it done,” Fredi Gonzalez said.

Everyone is talking about one play – the play in the 9th inning where the Braves scored their only run.

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Nick Markakis started off the 9th inning with a leadoff single.  A.J. Pierzynski followed that with a line drive single between first and second base.  Markakis was able to get to third base and Pierzynski moved to second base after Bryce Harper missed his cutoff man.

With runners on second and third, the Nationals decided to walk Joey Terdoslavich to load the bases and create a force out opportunity.

The next hitter?  Kelly Johnson, who on the first pitch hit a deep fly ball to center field.  ALL runners decided to tag-up.  Even Terdoslavich from first to second.  Denard Span made the catch and a great throw to second base to get JoeyT out.

“It wasn’t the right play,” Terdoslavich said after the game.  “Winning run’s on third, my run doesn’t mean anything.  Just tried to be aggressive.  Span made a great throw, but I shouldnt have went.  Should have stayed at first.”

“You don’t know if he’ll score or not, it’s an aggressive play,” Fredi Gonzalez told reporters.  “If you do make it, it’s a great play and if you don’t, you’ve got to answer the questions at the end of the night.  You’ve got to make a good throw from 180 feet away.  I’m not overly mad at that one really.  It’s an aggressive base running play and Span made a hell of a throw in.”

Is it all Joey’s fault?  Possibly.  Could Terry Pendleton (Braves first base coach) have told Terdoslavich to stay or go?  Possibly.  But let’s not destroy JoeyT on this.  Yes he probably should have stayed at first, but he was trying to avoid a potential double play.  If JoeyT stayed at first and Andrelton Simmons hit the same ball he did, we’d all be hating on Simmons because he would have grounded into a double play.

Regardless of this play, the game was really all about the pitching.  Nationals Jordan Zimmermann and Braves Shelby Miller put on a show.  Miller pitched seven innings, giving up three hits, one run, one walk and had five strikeouts.  Zimmermann pitched eight innings, giving up six hits, zero runs, zero walks and had three strikeouts.

In the 11th inning…Harper killed the Braves again.  He doubled with one out and then Dana Eveland walked two straight hitters.  With the bases loaded, Ian Desmond hit a sac fly to score Harper and win the game.

Braves prospect Matt Wisler is on the mound on Thursday in the final game of this series and Doug Fister is going for the Nationals.  The game starts at 4:05pm ET.

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