Wilson Ramos collected four hits and Daniel Murphy continued his hot start to the season as the Nationals defeated the Braves, 6-4, Monday night at Nationals Park. This was the first game of a seven-game stretch against the rebuilding Braves and Phillies for the Nationals, a schedule that gives them the opportunity to get off to a fast start to the season.
“That’s big, you can either get off to a good start or get off to a terrible start,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. “You need to win those games, this is the epitome of games you win in April you don’t have to win in August or September.”
The Nationals overcame a rocky outing from Max Scherzer, whom the Braves were on from the start, beginning with a two-run double from A.J. Pierzynski in the first. Scherzer battled through six innings, surrendering four runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
“They put some good at-bats against me in the first couple innings,” Scherzer said. “I just couldn’t find a pitch to get out of the jam there with runners on base. Sometimes you got to tip your hat to your opponents, and that was the situation.”
The Nationals answered the Braves’ two-run first with three runs in the bottom of the inning, punctuated by a two-run homer by Murphy off Braves starter Bud Norris. Norris pitched well against the Nationals last week in Atlanta, when he gave up three runs in seven innings, but he did not have the same success Monday. He threw 37 pitches in the first inning and surrendered five runs on nine hits over five innings
“If you lose five or six in a row in July, nobody worries,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said after his team fell to 0-6. “It’s the beginning of a season, and I am worried, but I know we are playing good baseball, and we’re close to playing good baseball. We’re going to be better for it.”
After Pierzynski gave the Braves an early lead with his two-run double in the first, Nick Markakis softened the blow of Washington’s three-run first with the two-out, two-run double he delivered in the second inning. Markakis began the fifth inning with his fifth double within a span of nine at-bats. But he was left stranded at third as Scherzer retired Freddie Freeman, Adonis Garcia and Pierzynski without the ball leaving the infield. The Braves recorded just two hits over the final four innings.
With center fielder Ender Inciarte sidelined until at least April 24 with a hamstring strain, the Braves promoted highly-regarded prospect Mallex Smith on Monday and immediately inserted him into the leadoff spot. Smith highlighted his MLB debut with his first career hit — a second-inning single off Scherzer that enabled him to show off his speed when he scoring from first base on Markakis’ first double. But Smith’s memorable night ended when he suffered a laceration above his left eye when his forehead cracked his batting helmet as he slid headfirst toward second base on an unsuccessful stolen base attempt in the fourth inning.
“I’ll have a good story from my debut down the road,” said Smith, who said he’ll be ready to play on Tuesday after receiving five stitches to close the laceration. More >
Jhoulys Chacin will make his season debut when Atlanta and Washington resume this four-game series on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. CT. Chacin earned a rotation spot during Spring Training, but to fit their roster needs the Braves had the veteran right-hander make his first start of the year with Triple-A Gwinnett. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of tonight’s game on the Braves Radio Network FOLLOWING our exclusive broadcast of Coffee County baseball.
