Tommy Hanson pitched three no-hit innings, and the staff behind him combined to allow two hits as the Braves shut out the Nationals, 5-0.
Hanson pitched 2.1 perfect innings before allowing a one-out walk to Michael Aubrey. He responded with two straight outs to end the three no-hit innings. Hanson struck out one, induced five groundouts and three flyouts. His breaking stuff was very sharp in both movement and location.
Cristhian Martinez was even more impressive, striking out five in two innings. He began the fourth with back-to-back strikeouts of Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth. He struck out the side in the fifth around a single by Laynce Nix. Martinez could not have pitched much better, and he certainly opened eyes in the bullpen spot race.
Jonny Venters pitched a perfect inning, including a strikeout of Desmond, while the other two outs were on the ground. Jairo Asencio pitched two perfect innings, striking out one. He got Bryce Harper to line out in the seventh. Arodys Vizcaino was also impressive in his second outing of spring, allowing a single with two outs but striking out one.
Alex Gonzalez doubled in the second, but Jason Heyward was thrown out at home on the play. Gonzalez did score on an error for the first run. The Braves loaded the bases in the fourth and Gonzalez grounded into a double play to bring home a run. Brandon Hicks singled in a run, and Wilkin Ramirez singled in two for the fourth and fifth runs in the eighth.
The Braves struggled against Nationals starter Ross Detwiler for three innings, striking out five times. Hicks and Ramirez picked up the only RBIs off Luis Atilano. No Brave had more than one hit, and the doubles were by Gonzalez and Chipper Jones.
Ramirez continues to hit well, helping his case for a spot on the roster. Brooks Conrad singled and scored in his only at bat, and Matt Young singled once in two trips.
Mycal Jones and Christian Bethancourt each received an at bat but neither reached.