The Associated Press
WASHINGTON–The Atlanta Braves had dropped three-straight games before this week’s series against the Washington Nationals.
That only makes their rare series victory against the defending NL East champs even sweeter.
Julio Teheran earned his third-consecutive victory, and Kurt Suzuki homered, as Atlanta dumped Washington 13-2 yesterday to take two of three from the Nationals.
“It’s a tough place to win,” said manager Brian Snitker. “It’s a very good team and we were coming off a rough series at home.
“Guys responded well,” he added. “We started swinging the bats and the bullpen did a great job.
“It was a good series for us.”
Brandon Phillips had four hits and three RBIs for the Braves, who had dropped seven-straight road series against the Nationals and had lost 23 of their last 25 games in Washington.
It was Atlanta’s first series victory at Washington since taking two during a three-game set back on April 4-6, 2014.
Teheran (6-4) matched a season-high with seven innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out three against a lineup that did not include resting regulars Anthony Rendon and Matt Wieters.
“Even if I give up a homer or something, I just have to stay focused and execute pitches,” Teheran noted.
“That’s something I was doing really good–getting ahead in counts and throwing strike one,” he added.
“It was big today.”
Washington, meanwhile, lost its second-straight series and finished 2-5 on its homestand.
“It was a tough homestand,” conceded manager Dusty Baker.
“This is not the kind of homestand you want to exhibit in front of your home fans.”
Atlanta was in control from the start against Washington starter Tanner Roark (6-4), who gave up two runs before he recorded an out and three total in the first inning.
The Braves added three more in the third, with Nick Markakis scoring from third after Nationals’ catcher Jose Lobaton’s pick-off attempt of Matt Kemp caught first baseman Ryan Zimmerman off guard and sailed into right-field.
Kemp was thrown out at third and left the game the following half-inning as a precaution after experiencing hamstring tightness.
After a walk to Matt Adams, Suzuki hit his fourth home run of the season to make it 6-2.
Elsewhere in the NL, San Diego doubled Cincinnati 4-2, Colorado beat Pittsburgh 5-1, New York upended Chicago 9-4, and Milwaukee topped St. Louis 7-6.
Miami dumped Oakland 11-6, Kansas City beat San Francisco 7-2, Boston downed Philadelphia 7-3, Arizona nipped Detroit 2-1, and the L.A. Dodgers upended Cleveland 6-4.
