Washington Nationals Win, 8-4, Take Two Of Three From Atlanta Braves In Turner Field.

' Jump On Hudson!: Washington Nationals' All-Star rep Gio Gonzalez took the mound this afternoon in the bottom of the first in Turner Field with a 4-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves. The Nats' batters collected four hits and four runs off Tim Hudson in the top of the first. Leadoff man Steve Lombarozzi hit a ground rule double to right to start the game, Bryce Harper singled and Ryan Zimmerman took a 2-1 sinker to center for a two-run double and a 2-0 lead. Zim's 14th double was followed by a Michael Morse groundout that moved the Nationals' third baseman to third and an Adam LaRoche sac fly that brought Zimmerman in for a 3-0 Nats' lead early. Ian Desmond, who learned he was one of three Nats going to Kansas City for the 2012 All-Star Game (along with Gio and Stephen Strasburg), walked with two down and then came around to score run no. 4 of the game and run no. 5,000 in Nationals' history when Braves' center fielder Michael Bourn misplayed a Rick Ankiel line drive allowing Desmond to score from first. 4-0 Nationals after a half.

Jason Heyward singled to right with two down in the Braves' first, but Gio Gonzalez completed a scoreless opening frame on 18-pitches. 4-0 Nats after one.

' Andrelton - A-n-d-r-e-l-t-o-n: After a 24-pitch, 4-hit, 4-run first, Braves' right-hander Tim Hudson needed just eight pitches to retire the Nationals in order in the top of the second. Gio Gonzalez had the first two outs of the Braves' second nine pitches into the inning, but Atlanta's rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons fouled off eight two-strike pitches and eventually walked in an epic 14-pitch at bat. Braves' catcher David Ross followed with a two-out single and a free pass to the opposing pitcher loaded the bases before Michael Bourn lined to Desmond at short to end a 33-pitch second by the Nationals' left-hander. 51 pitches for Gio in 2.0 IP, 4-0 Nats.

' LARRRRYY!!!: Adam LaRoche, who was 2 for 3 yesterday at Turner Field, hit a sac fly to score a run in his first at bat today, and then singled with two down in the Nats' third. The former Braves and current-Nationals' first baseman was stranded at first two pitches later, however, when Ian Desmond flew to center to end a 10-pitch third by Hudson. 42 pitches overall through three for the Braves' starter. Gio Gonzalez was up to 59 pitches in the third when he gave up a one-out single to center by Jason Heyward. The Braves' outfielder then scored on an RBI double to right by Chipper Jones that made it 4-1 Nationals after three in Turner Field. The 24-pitch frame had the Nats' starter up to 75 pitches total after 3.0.

' Hudson Settles In: Tim Hudson gave up four hits and four runs in the first, then threw three scoreless, giving up just a hit and a walk over the three innings that followed his long opening frame. The Braves' right-hander walked the opposing pitcher, Gio Gonzalez, with two down in the fourth but a line drive to first off Steve Lombardozzi's bat ended a 15-pitch inning, after which Hudson was at 57 pitches overall. Gio Gonzalez needed just nine pitches to retire the Braves in order in the bottom of the fourth, which ended with the Nats' left-hander getting the opposing pitcher looking at a 94 mph 1-2 four seamer. 84 pitches, 3 K's after four.

' TKCHZ!!: With one out in the top of the fifth, Ryan Zimmerman got a hold of a hanging 1-1 curve from Tim Hudson and crushed it, sending it soaring out to left field and over the "Outfield Pavilion" seats into the "Terrace Outfield" section in Turner Field. Initial Estimate?: Zimmerman's HR went about 430-50ft to left. 6th HR of 2012 for the Nats' third baseman makes it 5-1 after four and a half. A 14-pitch, 1-2-3 frame in which Gio Gonzalez collected his fourth K with a 2-2 curve to Michael Bourn, ended with the Nats' lefty at 98 pitches overall on the afternoon. Ian Desmond doubled for the 24th time this year on a 0-1 splitter from Tim Hudson in the top of the sixth. One out later, a wild pitch with Jhonatan Solano up allowed Desmond to take third and he then scored on a Jhonatan Solano grounder to first that Freddie Freeman couldn't handle. 6-1 Nats after five and a half.

' Freht-E: Gio Gonzalez came back out for the sixth, but 11 pitches and two walks into the inning he was at 109 pitches overall with Freddie Freeman at the plate. Gio got a visit from Nats' pitching coach Steve McCatty, but stayed in to face the left-handed hitting Braves' first baseman, who took a 94 mph 2-2 fastball to right and into the outfield seats for a three-run blast that made it a 6-4 game. 10th HR of the year for Freeman. Gio Gonzalez was done: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K's, 114 P, 64 S, 5/3 GO/FO. Craig Stammen took over for Gonzalez and retired the next three batters in order, but it was a two-run game after six.

' Note: Gio Gonzalez gave up 1 HR in 1st 14 GS and 84.2 IP. Nats' lefty's given up 3 HR's in last 2 starts and 11.0 IP after Freeman's HR. Of course, two of those three were given up in Coors Field.

' Stay-Min: Adam LaRoche took a 1-0 fastball from Braves' RHP Anthony Varvaro to deep center field, but ALT CF Michael Bourn caught it on the track for out no.3 to end a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 inning by Atlanta's reliever. Martin Prado took second on a one-out bloop single to left that fell in between Ian Desmond and Roger Bernadina in the Braves' seventh. Bernadina over-ran it, allowing the Braves' left fielder to take second with Jason Heyward due up. The Braves' right fielder flew out to Rick Ankiel in center, deep enough for Prado to take third, but Stammen got a groundout from Chipper Jones to end the seventh with the score still 6-4 Nats.

' Bullpen Battle: Anthony Varvaro struck out the side in the Nats' eighth on 14 pitches. 32 pitches, 3 K's in 2.0 scoreless from the Braves' right-hander. Nats' lefty Sean Burnett gave up back-to-back one-out singles by Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons after he'd struck Dan Uggla out to start the Braves' eighth. David Ross K'd swinging over a 2-2 slider in a seven-pitch at bat for out no.2 and Matt Diaz grounded into a force at second to end the bottom of the inning with the score still 6-4 Nats.

' #LomboLobby Loves Steals: Steve Lombardozzi was hit by a pitch by Braves' Jonny Venters and stole second (1st MLB SB) with Bryce Harper up before the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder took a one-out walk. Ryan Zimmerman then came through with an RBI single that brought Lombardozzi around to make it 7-4 Nats. That's all for Venters. Cristhian Martinez got a potential DP grounder out of PH Tyler Moore, but a low throw to second by Chipper Jones, a hard slide into the bag by Zimmerman and a wide throw to first by Dan Uggla combined to let Harper score for run no. 8. 8-4 Nationals after eight and a half.

' Clipp'd: It was no longer a save situation in the ninth, but Tyler Clippard came on anyway. Grounder. Desmond. Out. on a grounder by Michael Bourn. Grounder. Desmond. Out. Martin Prado rolled out no.3 to short and Jason Heyward grounded out to first to end the game. 8-4 Nats final. Nationals take two of three from the Braves.

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 77: I say Zimmy's an all star (today, at least)":

Via FanGraphs

• One batter too long: Gio Gonzalez (-7.1%) goes 5+ IP, walking 4, fanning 4, and giving up 4 ER--mainly thanks to 3-run HR he gave up to the last batter he faced (-12.6%).
• When's his power coming back? Ryan Zimmerman (+19.9%) hits a booming, two-RBI double off the wall for the early lead (+12.2%), a mammoth 5th-inning solo shot to stretch the lead to 4 runs (+5.8%), and an 9th-inning RBI single to hog up the last of the WE (+3.3%)
  
• Solid bridge: Craig Stammen (+13.3%) records a shutdown with a scoreless 2 IP in relief, striking out 3 and walking none.
• Nearly automatic: Sean Burnett (+7.2%) gets a shutdown with 2Ks in a scoreless 8th.
  

Nationals now 45-32.

Game 77: I say Zimmy's an all star (today, at least)

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Washington Nationals' 2012 MLB All-Stars Announced: Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg And Ian Desmond Named To NL Roster. Bryce Harper In Final Vote.

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Game 76: Meltdown

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Toinght's game story: It's hot. Nats lose.

Via FanGraphs

• Overheated: Stephen Strasburg (-25.8% pitching, +11.5% hitting) struggles through 3 IP, walking 4, striking out 4, and giving up 3 ER. He was also 1-1 with a walk and a RBI single for the early lead (+10.0%).
• No relief: Chien-Ming Wang (-23.9%) gives up 4 ER in his 2 IP.
• Not clutch (which also doesn't exist): Ian Desmond (-4.2%) GDPs to end the inning with the bases loaded in the 3rd (-10.4%), while Rick Ankiel (-12.2%) GDPs to squelch a two-on rally in the 6th (-12.2%), and Jesus Flores grounds out with the bases loaded and two outs in the 7th (-11.6%).
  
• Keeping his cool: Adam LaRoche (+17.5%) is 2-3 with 2 walks, 2 doubles, and an RBI.

Stephen Strasburg Out Early, Washington Nationals Lose 7-5 To Atlanta Braves In Record Heat.

' "Right Side": Washington Nationals' leadoff man Danny Espinosa doubled to left from the right side of the plate on the fifth pitch of the first at bat of this afternoon's game with the Atlanta Braves in Turner Field. ATL lefty Mike Minor got back-to-back groundouts from Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman in the next two AB's, but Espinosa took third and scored on the consecutive productive outs for a 1-0 Nationals' lead early. Only a leaping grab by Michael Bourn on a 390ft line drive to center robbed Michael Morse of a two-out extra base hit. 15 pitches for Minor in the top of the first. Bourn took a leadoff walk from Nats' right-hander Stephen Strasburg to start the bottom of the inning. The 23-year-old Nationals' ace went to a full count with Martin Prado and walked the Braves' left fielder too before striking Jason Heyward out with a 96 mph 1-2 fastball for the first out of the inning. Bryce Harper caught a fly ball to center off Freddie Freeman's bat on the warning track in center for out no.2. Dan Uggla, who started the at bat 6 for 11 in his career vs Strasburg, was 6 for 12 after he took another 96 mph 1-2 four-seamer for an inning-ending called strike three. 24-pitch, 2 K first for Stras in Atlanta...

' Strasburg's All DIY-ish: Adam LaRoche doubled to right and into the stands on one hop in the top of the second, then took third on a productive groundout to the right side by Ian Desmond. Tyler Moore couldn't bring LaRoche in like Zimmerman had, however, and the Braves' manager Fredi Gonzalez decided to walk Jesus Flores to bring Strasburg up with two runners on and two out. Not a good idea, Fredi. Strasburg entered the at bat with a .348/.375/.652 line, four doubles and a home run in 15 games and 25 PA's. Atlanta's manager made the mistake and paid for it immediately as Stephen "DIY" Strasburg did it himself, singling to center, over the mound under the pitcher's legs for an RBI hit and a 2-0 Nats' lead. The hit left Strasburg 9 for 24 (.375/.400/.667) on the season after he'd collected his third RBI.

' Desi DP: A 91 mph change after a 96 mph four-seamer got Braves' third baseman Juan Francisco swinging for the final out of a 19-pitch, 1-2-3 second by Stephen Strasburg that had the right-hander up to 43 pitches overall with 3 K's in 2.0 scoreless. Ryan Zimmerman walked with one down in the Nats' third, took second on a scorched single through short by Michael Morse and third on a base-loading walk by Adam LaRoche, but Ian Desmond rolled one right to Dan Uggla at second in the next at bat and the Braves' second baseman turned a quick 6-3 DP to end the top of the third in Turner Field.

' Bourn/Prado BB's Not A Replay: Strasburg struck the opposing pitcher out to retire the seventh-straight batter after he issued back-to-back walks to start the Braves' first. Michael Bourn, one of the two batters who walked in the first, took a one-out walk in the third in front of Martin Prado. Bourn stole second safely after Strasburg threw a 2-1 curve high to Prado, and the Nats' starter missed with the 3-1 pitch too to walk both Braves in consecutive AB's for the second time today. This time Atlanta cashed in on the walks with Jason Heyward lining to left and over a confused Tyler Moore for an RBI double that cut Washington's lead in half, 2-1. A fly to center by Freddie Freeman in the next at bat was deep enough to score Prado from third and it was tied at 2-2. Dan Uggla (6 for 12) was 7 for 13 and the Braves were up 3-2 after the second baseman doubled to left on a 1-0 fastball to give Atlanta the lead after three. A 24-pitch inning had Strasburg at 67 pitches overall.

' Strasburg... Done?: Mike Minor struck out the first two Nats he faced in the fourth, then walked Stephen Strasburg, issuing the opposing pitcher his first career free pass. Danny Espinosa flew out to center in the next at bat though, and Minor was through a 17-pitch fourth at 68 pitches overall. After running out the fly on the basepaths, Strasburg went back to the dugout, but didn't return to the mound. Nats' skipper Davey Johnson came out to talk to home plate umpire Marvin Hudson and Nats' right-hander Chien-Ming Wang made his way in from the bullpen. Strasburg was shown on the broadcast heading down to ask pitching coach Steve McCatty what was going on only to discover he'd been lifted after just 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB's, 4 K's, 67 pitches, 37 strikes and three fly ball outs. No immediate word on why the Nationals made the decision but someone's sure to ask after the game if there's no explanation beforehand. (ed. note - "It was later described as "heat-related" issues.")

' WANG!!!: Andrelton Simmons reached first safely on a high chopper to third to start the fourth. Zimmerman made the play and threw to LaRoche, but a headfirst slide actually worked for once as the Braves' shortstop beat the ball to the bag. Juan Francisco doubled to right in the next at bat, bringing Simmons around from first for a 4-2 Braves' lead on the second straight hit off of Wang. Mike Minor bunted Francisco over and an RBI double by Michael Bourn brought the Braves' 5th run in. Bourn then took second on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly to center by Prado. 6-2 Atlanta after four.

' 5.0 IP = Minor Achievement: Mike Minor threw a quick, 8-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the fifth, after which Chien-Ming Wang gave up a leadoff single to Freddie Freeman. Two outs later, with Freeman on third, Andrelton Simmons drove the Atlanta Braves' seventh run in with an RBI single to center. Wang completed a 15-pitch bottom of the inning with 38 pitches on his arm overall. Minor gave up a leadoff walk (his second) to Adam LaRoche in the Nationals' sixth, and after Ian Desmond followed with his 23rd double of the year on a line drive to right, there were two runners in scoring position when Minor was lifted. Kris Medlen took over for Atlanta. Tyler Moore singled to the grass in short center to bring LaRoche in and Jesus Flores lined to left to score Desmond and make it 7-4 before Medlen got a double play grounder from Rick Ankiel and swinging K from Danny Espinosa, who struck out for the 87th in 2012, to end the inning.

' Bourn Non-E = Double: Martin Prado hit a two-out double to right off Tom Gorzelanny in the bottom of the sixth. Prado's 21st two-bagger. A two-out walk to Jason Heyward followed, but Gorzelanny covered first on a groundout to Adam LaRoche by Freddie Freeman and completed a 17-pitch inning. Michael Morse singled to right with one down in the top of the seventh, then took second on a wild pitch before scoring on a line drive to center by Adam LaRoche that Michael Bourn misjudged into an RBI double. Bourn had the liner sail right over his head for LaRoche's second two-base hit of the game and his 18th of 2012. 7-5 Atlanta in the seventh. Chad Durbin took over for Medlen and issued back-to-back walks to Ian Desmond and Tyler Moore to load the bases, but Jesus Flores rolled into a force at second to end the Nats' seventh with the score still 7-5 Braves.

' No Comeback: Tom Gorzelanny gave up a two-out single by Andrelton Simmons, but was able to strike Juan Francisco out to end the bottom of the seventh. Braves' lefty Eric O'Flaherty retired the Nationals in order in the top of the eighth, with Bryce Harper just missing a 91 mph 2-2 fastball that fell into Michael Bourn's glove on the track 10ft or so short of a home run. 7-5 Braves after seven and a 1/2. Michael Gonzalez gave up a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth, but threw a scoreless inning in Turner Field. Craig Kimbrel took over for Atlanta in the ninth. Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to second. Michael Morse K'd swinging. Two down... and Adam LaRoche couldn't hold up on a two-strike slider in the dirt. Ballgame. Braves win, 7-5 final.

104F at first pitch, this is officially the hottest game in Nationals ('05-pres.) history (thanks Elias). #hydrate

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) June 30, 2012

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: COMING SOON!!!

Nationals now 44-32.

Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg Out After 3.0 IP vs Atlanta Braves In HOT Turner Field With "Heat-Related Issues."

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Game 75: They just can't make it easy.

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Dave at District Sports Page

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