Mike Minor threw six strong innings, Dan Uggla broke it open with a two-run single and the Atlanta Braves denied Gio Gonzalez his 20th win, completing a sweep of the first-place Washington Nationals 2-1 on Sunday night.
Minor (9-10) allowed five hits before turning it over to the bullpen. Cory Gearrin, Luis Avilan and Chad Durbin each worked a scoreless inning to close it out.
The Braves broke a scoreless tie in the third against Gonzalez (19-8) on Chipper Jones' single. Freddie Freeman added a sacrifice fly.
Washington closed to 2-1 on Ian Desmond's RBI single in the sixth, but the Braves pulled away with a three-run seventh, taking advantage of an error by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Michael Bourn scored on a groundout and Uggla came through with his two-out hit.
The Nationals' lead in the NL East was reduced to 5 1/2 games after the lost weekend in Atlanta. Washington is still in fairly comfortable position with just over two weeks left in the season, but the Braves at least gave themselves a bit of hope in the division race.
More noteworthy, Atlanta's sweep solidified its return to the playoffs after a historic collapse in the final month last season. The Braves maintained a seven-game lead over the second wild-card spot, held by St. Louis, and are eight games up on the next club in the race, the Los Angeles Dodgers. It would take a more epic meltdown than even 2011 to squander that lead with only 15 games to go.
Gonzalez was trying to become the first 20-game winner for the Montreal-Washington franchise since Ross Grimsley in 1978, when the team called Canada home. But the Braves ran up his pitch count by showing patience at the plate, making it difficult for him just to get through the required five innings.
The left-hander struggled to make it to the sixth, but was lifted after Jones led off with a walk and Freeman doubled. Craig Stammen got out of the mess. Uggla popped out, David Ross struck out and Andrelton Simmons ended the threat with a weak grounder to second base.
But the Braves blew it open the next inning, using Bourn's speed and Zimmerman's fielding blunder. Bourn walked with one out, then Reed Johnson hit a chopper to third that bounced off Zimmerman's left arm. The ball deflected a few feet away into foul territory, while Zimmerman looked around desperately, unsure where it was.
He finally spotted it, but not quick enough to get Bourn hustling into third. Sean Burnett came on the face Jason Heyward, who grounded to Adam LaRoche at first base. He stepped on the bag and quickly threw home, but it was a bit up the line, allowing Bourn to slide around the tag. After Jones was walked intentionally and Freeman was hit by a pitch, Uggla drove in two more runs with a single to left.
It began raining midway through the game, and there was a slight delay after the sixth while the grounds crew feverishly worked on the mound and around the bases, smoothing out some dry dirt. The showers passed, and the game went on without any further delays.
Notes: The Braves only had five hits. Washington finished with six. ... Atlanta will travel to Miami on Monday to begin a three-game series with the Marlins. Tim Hudson (14-6) goes against Miami's Wade LeBlanc (2-4). ... Washington is off Monday.
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Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons hit consecutive homers off Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Saturday night.
Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons hit consecutive homers off Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Saturday night.
The Atlanta Braves have placed left-hander Eric O'Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow strain and called up right-hander Cory Rasmus from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Braves general manager Frank Wren says left-hander Eric O'Flaherty has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
Paul Goldschmidt hit three doubles, Eric Chavez drove in three runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Wednesday.
Paul Goldschmidt hit three doubles, Eric Chavez drove in three runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 5:33 AM EDT2013-05-15 09:33:31 GMT
Patrick Corbin allowed three hits in seven innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks turned an infield double into two runs to beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 Tuesday night.
Patrick Corbin allowed three hits in seven innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks turned an infield double into two runs to beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 Tuesday night.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 4:28 AM EDT2013-05-14 08:28:30 GMT
Justin Upton snapped a 14-game homerless drought and had four hits to help the Atlanta Braves rout the Diamondbacks 10-1 on Monday night in his return to Arizona.
Justin Upton snapped a 14-game homerless drought and had four hits to help the Atlanta Braves rout the Diamondbacks 10-1 on Monday night in his return to Arizona.
Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons hit consecutive homers off Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Saturday night.
Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons hit consecutive homers off Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Saturday night.
The Atlanta Braves have placed left-hander Eric O'Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow strain and called up right-hander Cory Rasmus from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Braves general manager Frank Wren says left-hander Eric O'Flaherty has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont...
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP National Writer The son of the U.S. national swim team director is reporting that Michael Phelps is planning a comeback for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP National Writer Is Michael Phelps planning a comeback?
Friday, May 17 2013 11:45 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:45:14 GMT
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff biked his way to work on Friday. Dimitroff rode from Buckhead to The Georgia Dome as part of "National Bike to Work Day."
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff biked his way to work on Friday. Dimitroff rode from Buckhead to The Georgia Dome as part of "National Bike to Work Day."
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Ken Venturi, who overcame dehydration to win the 1964 U.S. Open and spent 35 years in the booth for CBS Sports, died Friday afternoon. He was 82.
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Ken Venturi, who overcame dehydration to win the 1964 U.S. Open and spent 35 years in the booth for CBS Sports, died Friday afternoon. He was 82.
