It figures that the offense would actually score more than a single run on a day the pitching sucks.
Ervin Santana gave up four first-inning runs and the Nats never looked back, beating the Braves 6-4.
If not for an ugly first inning, the Braves might've had a chance. Instead, Denard Span led off with a double; after a sacrifice, Jayson Werth walked and then four straight singles by LaRoche, Desmond, Harper and Ramos plated three runs; Asdrubal Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.
The "Barves" handed the Nats a gift in the second inning. After Santana issued a two-out walk to Werth, Christian Bethancourt tried to pick him off, but Freddie Freeman wasn't paying attention and the throw went into right field. Werth scored on a single by Adam LaRoche.
The Nats would barve themselves in the fourth. Phil Gosselin and Freddie Freeman started the inning with a double and a single against Jordan Zimmermann; Ian Desmond tried to turn a double play on Jason Heyward, but threw the ball away, allowing Gosselin to score; Chris Johnson singled to right to score Heyward. Washington would get one of those runs back that same inning when Jayson Werth doubled to bring home Anthony Rendon, who walked with one out. Three of Santana's four walks scored.
Santana: 5 innings, 8 hits, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Zimmermann: 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Justin Upton hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Zimmermann after Phil Gosselin reached on a throwing error to bring the Braves within two. They had another scoring opportunity in the eighth, but the dreaded curse of the leadoff double reared its ugly head and the Braves walked away with nothing.
Win Expectancy