Nats vs Braves has all the makings of long rivalry
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - This has the makings of baseball's next great rivalry.
Washington vs. Atlanta.
Last year, the teams battled all season in the NL East, the Nationals leading most of the way with the Braves in futile pursuit. Washington finished with a league-leading 98 wins - four games ahead of Atlanta, though both made the playoffs.
After both lost to St. Louis in the postseason, they began making moves with the other clearly in mind. The Braves signed B.J. Upton and traded for his younger brother, Justin. The Nationals acquired leadoff hitter Denard Span and picked up reliever Rafael Soriano, adding to a team that already includes 2 of the sport's brightest young players, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.
The teams are playing Tuesday in a spring training game at Kissimmee.
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Chris Johnson homered for the first time in more than a month, Kris Medlen overcame a defensive blunder and the Atlanta Braves bounced back from a doubleheader sweep, beating the New York Mets 5-3 Wednesday night.
Chris Johnson homered for the first time in more than a month, Kris Medlen overcame a defensive blunder and the Atlanta Braves bounced back from a doubleheader sweep, beating the New York Mets 5-3 Wednesday night.
Matt Harvey pitched six hitless innings, John Buck homered and the New York Mets held off another Atlanta comeback, beating the Braves 4-3 Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Zack Wheeler lived up the hype in his major league debut, pitching six scoreless innings to lead the New York Mets to a 6-1 victory over the first-place Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday.
Matt Harvey pitched six hitless innings, John Buck homered and the New York Mets held off another Atlanta comeback, beating the Braves 4-3 Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Matt Harvey pitched six hitless innings, John Buck homered and the New York Mets held off another Atlanta comeback, beating the Braves 4-3 Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Sunday, June 16 2013 11:56 PM EDT2013-06-17 03:56:53 GMT
Freddie Freeman singled three times and drove in one run, Julio Teheran pitched six scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Sunday night.
Freddie Freeman singled three times and drove in one run, Julio Teheran pitched six scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Sunday night.
Saturday, June 15 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-06-16 03:03:51 GMT
Freddie Freeman's bases-loaded, line-drive single off closer Sergio Romo capped a two-run rally in the ninth that lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
Freddie Freeman's bases-loaded, line-drive single off closer Sergio Romo capped a two-run rally in the ninth that lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
Madison Bumgarner allowed two hits in seven innings and combined with Sandy Rosario for a three-hit shutout in the San Francisco Giants' 6-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.
Madison Bumgarner allowed two hits in seven innings and combined with Sandy Rosario for a three-hit shutout in the San Francisco Giants' 6-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez says "barring any setbacks" Brandon Beachy will make his first start of the season during Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Mets.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez says "barring any setbacks" Brandon Beachy will make his first start of the season during Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Mets.
