The Atlanta Braves have now lost 15 of their last 23 games. The lead in the wild card could be down to one if the Cardinals win later today.
The Nationals got on the board early with a solo-home run that Wilson Ramos clubbed over the left field wall. It was not a bad pitch from Mike Minor, who worked 4.2 innings, but Ramos got just enough of it to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Once Minor was removed, Cristhian Martinez came in and worked 3.1 solid innings of relief. His lone mistake -- an 0-2 fastball down the middle to Mitch Morse -- was deposited into the right field seats for a 3-0 lead.
The Braves mustered just four hits off Ross Detwiler and the Nationals bullpen. The team had bases loaded and no outs in the third inning and did not score. They also had the first two runners reach in the fifth and did not score.
I don't know what to say at this point. This team is no longer having fun on the field. Three games left, one game lead in the wild card. Cliff Lee awaits us Monday.