FanSided

Washington Nationals Recap: Harper, Strasburg Fuel Win in Series Finale to Sweep Braves

By Matt Weyrich |
Apr 14, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after hitting a grand slam against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after hitting a grand slam against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-1 Thursday afternoon behind Bryce Harper’s 100th career home run and a strong day on the mound by Stephen Strasburg.

After getting scratched from his originally scheduled start Thursday with an illness, the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.98 ERA) returned to the mound in dominant fashion. The former No. 1 overall pick opened up the game retiring five of the first seven hitters that stepped in the batter’s box.

Atlanta was able to squeeze a run out of Strasburg in the third, scoring Jace Peterson on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Nick Markakis. They wouldn’t be able to muster much more against him after that, however. Following Markakis’s single, the Braves sent 17 hitters to the plate before Strasburg finally left the game in the eighth, but only managed to muster two hits over that span.

More from District on Deck

Julio Teheran (0-2, 6.35) made the start for Atlanta, who was still looking for their first win of the year after opening up regular season play with an abysmal 0-8 record. He carved through the Washington lineup over the first two innings, but the Nats were able to build a rally in the third.

Matt den Dekker, who made his first start of the year after Jayson Werth was given the day off, kicked off the frame with an eight pitch at-bat that ended in a leadoff walk. After Danny Espinosa flied out to left and Den Dekker was thrown out at second on a bad bunt by Strasburg, it looked like Teheran might be able to get out of the inning.

Unfortunately for Atlanta, Chris Heisey knocked his first base hit in a Nats uniform and Anthony Rendon followed with a single of his own to load the bases for reigning MVP Bryce Harper. Harper then promptly crushed a 1-0 pitch off the digital panel in front of the second deck in right-center field for his 100th career home run and first grand slam in the majors to make it 4-1 Nats.

The next inning, Washington added onto their lead on Wilson Ramos’s first homer of the season, a solo shot to left-center. While Strasburg was holding the Braves scoreless, the Nats’ offense continued to hit Teheran around. Ramos came through again two innings later with an RBI double with two outs to push their lead to five. The Buffalo is hitting .407/.407/.556 on the season with five RBI’s.

More from Nationals News

Strasburg came out for the eighth and was able to record two outs around a single by Daniel Castro before being replaced by Felipe Rivero. Rivero allowed the next hitter, Markakis, to bring Castro around from first to score on a RBI double, making it a 6-2 game. That closed the book on Strasburg, having thrown 7.2 innings allowing only two runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Next: Reaction: Nats Continue To Dominate Braves

Rivero closed out the inning, then returned to hill for the ninth. He made quick work of the middle of the Braves’ lineup, recording a 1-2-3 inning to give the Nats their fifth straight win and a four game sweep over Atlanta to extend their home winning streak versus their division rival to 14.

Next Up: The Nationals hit the road to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies for a weekend series. On Friday, Joe Ross (1-0, 1.29) will be looking to carry over his success from his dominant first start while the Phillies send Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 1.54) to mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m and you can catch the game on MASN.

Home / Nationals News

Schedule