The Braves dropped the second game of their doubleheader against the Nationals on Saturday, losing by a score of 5-2. Atlanta held an early lead and appeared to be in control of the game, but bad luck and a poor effort from the bullpen would eventually be their downfall.
Chipper Jones doubled home a run in the first inning to make it 1-0. Freddie Freeman then followed with an RBI-single to bring home Chipper.
Randall Delgado was impressive early. He ended up working six innings of two-run ball, surrendering just six hits and one walk while striking out four.
With the score 2-0 in the fifth, a wild pitch with two outs allowed the Nationals to score a run.
In the sixth, Dan Uggla bobbled what would have been an easy 4-3 double play, putting two runners on base. Delgado hit Michael Morse with a pitch to load the bases. With the Braves on the ropes, Delgado did a terrific job limiting Washington to just one run.
Sandy Leon reached in the seventh on a ball that bounced directly off first base. If it was half an inch to the left or right, Freddie Freeman would have had a routine play on the ball. Following a stolen base, Roger Bernadina singled just under Freeman's glove to make it 3-2.
After recording two quick outs in the eighth, the Braves gave up two more runs to score to increase the deficit to 5-2. When it was their turn to bat in the ninth, nothing came of a one-out walk to David Ross.
It was a tough loss for Atlanta, but they still have a chance to win the series on Sunday. They currently sit 2.5 games back in the NL East standings.