Lowe, Hitters Struggle As Braves Fall To Nationals 5-3

The Braves’ road woes continued in Washington as Derek Lowe gave up four runs in five innings and the Braves’ offense couldn’t bail him out. Lowe gave up five hits (including a homer to Ian Desmond), a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out three. Matt Diaz hit a two-run homer for the Braves and Omar Infante singled in the third run, but the Braves never led. Scott Olsen gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings to pick up the win. The Braves scored only six runs in the three-game series—none off the Nationals’ relievers. They are only 2-4 so far on a nine-game road trip that concludes this weekend in Cincinnati. Their poor play unfortunately has coincided with a hot streak from the second-place Phillies, who have won seven straight and just traded for Roy Oswalt. The Braves’ lead stands at just three games over the Phillies.

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Tim Hudson pitched 7.2 excellent innings, giving up only one run, to lead the Braves to an easy victory over the Nationals in Washington, D.C. Hudson gave up seven hits and struck out seven. Until walking the last batter he faced (with two outs in the 8th inning), Hudson had not even had any three-ball counts all night. He was supported by two RBI from Chipper Jones (on a sac fly and a single), not to mention three hits and two runs from Martin Prado. In the most exciting play of the game, Jason Heyward stole home after Brian McCann got caught in a rundown in the 1st inning, sliding smoothly underneath Ivan Rodriguez’s tag. It was the first steal of home by a Brave in ten years.

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Here is tonight’s lineup:
1) Prado – 2B
2) Heyward – RF
3) Chipper– 3B
4) McCann – C
5) Hinske – LF
6) Glaus – 1B
7) Gonzalez – SS
8) Cabrera – CF
9) Hudson – SP

Despite not having to face Stephen Strasburg, the Braves couldn’t seem to find their offense tonight in the opener of a three-game series in Washington. The Nationals’ emergency starter, Miguel Batista, threw five shutout innings, and three relievers combined to finish off the shutout. The Braves got only five hits. Braves starter Tommy Hanson pitched great—eight strikeouts and no walks in six innings—but was victimized by poor defense, as two errors led to two unearned runs. Before the game, Braves center fielder Nate McLouth was sent down to AAA Gwinnett. Brent Clevlen was called up to take his place, but one has to wonder if GM Frank Wren is on the verge of trading for another outfielder. Tonight’s poor offensive showing might heighten the urgency for such a move.