Washington started the night 14-2 against Atlanta this season with wins in nine of their last eleven with the Braves and a 5-1 record on the year in Turner Field.
Max Scherzer, who started for the Nationals, was (3-0) in four starts against the Braves before tonight with a 4.10 ERA and a .220/.291/.380 line against in 26 1⁄3 IP vs the Nats’ NL East rivals this season.
Scherzer improved to (W, 4-0) against Atlanta and to (17-7) overall on the year and the Nationals improved to 15-2 against the Braves this season in what ended up being a 7-2 win in which Trea Turner continued to run wild (4 for 5, HR, ground-rule double, 2 SB, 4 R, 2 RBIs), leading the Nats’ offense to their 88th win of the season.
Here’s how it happened:
Trea Turner improved to 21 for 48 (.438 AVG, 4 2B, 3 HR, 4 SB) vs the Braves this season with a leadoff, infield single off Atlanta’s starter, John Gant, in the top of the first, and he was on the move when Jayson Werth punched a single over the right side, allowing Turner to take third.
Bryce Harper walked (No. 104 vs 103 Ks) with one down in the first to load them up for Anthony Rendon, and the Nationals’ third baseman lined a two-run single to left for an early lead, 2-0.
Turner improved to 22 for 49 (.449 AVG, 4 2B, 3 HR, 4 SB) with a two-out, two-run home run to left off Gant on a 3-2 changeup in the second. No. 9 on the season for Turner. 4-0.
Jayson Werth singled to keep the second inning going and Daniel Murphy followed with an RBI double to right that made it 5-0 over the Braves in the second.
An intentional walk to Bryce Harper ended Gant’s night after 1 2⁄3 IP and 55 pitches.
Matt Kemp doubled off Max Scherzer to start the home half of the second, and scored on an RBI single to center by Tyler Flowers that got the Braves on the board, 5-1.
Scherzer held the Braves to one run through five innings, but Nick Markakis walked to start the sixth, took third on a single by Kemp and scored on a sac fly to right field by Flowers to make it 5-2.
Turner was 3 for 4 on the night (and 23 for 51 vs the Braves this season) after he hit a line drive to left field to start the Nationals’ half of the seventh, and he stole second (on a pitch out), then stole third, and scored on a sac fly to left by Murphy, 6-2.
Max Scherzer’s Line: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ks, 104 P, 68 S, 4/4 GO/FO.
Blake Treinen worked around a two-out double by Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the eighth inning, striking out the side in a 19-pitch frame.
Trea Turner collected his 4th hit (4 for 5 tonight, 24 for 52 vs ATL in 2016) on a two-out ground-rule double in the ninth and scored on an RBI single by Jayson Werth to put the Nationals up 7-2. That’s how it ended. Ballgame.
Nationals now 88-59
NATS NOTES:
- Washington’s 87-59 record heading into tonight’s game was the second base in the majors, behind only the Chicago Cubs (93-53).
- The Nationals started the night with the second-best run differential in the NL (+152), behind only, again, the Cubs (+233).
- Washington started this weekend’s three-game set in Atlanta with a 14-2 record against the Braves on the season, 8-1 in D.C. and 5-1 in Turner Field.
- The Nationals were 41-31 on the road overall heading into this final road trip, for a .569 winning percentage, which was the second best in Nationals’ history (2005-present).
- In today’s Nationals-themed “Fun with Arbitrary End Points” segment: Washington is 12-4 since August 29th, with the best record in baseball over that stretch.
- Daniel Murphy started the night with a 12-game hit streak, over which he was 19 for 45 (.422 AVG) with seven doubles, four walks, two stolen bases and seven runs scored.
- Murphy lead the majors with a .348 AVG and the NL with a .598 SLG, .991 OPS, 45 doubles and 55 multi-hit games heading into tonight’s game.
- Trea Turner’s .340 AVG is the highest by a rookie with at least 240 ABs since Ichiro Suzuki hit .350 in 2001.
- Max Scherzer started the night (3-0) vs the Braves this season, with a 3.32 ERA in Turner Field two seasons into his time with the Nationals.
Nationals now 88-59
Source: http://www.federalbaseball.com
