The Braves continued to struggle on Friday night against the NL East leading Nationals, losing by a score of 7-4. The Nats jumped on Tim Hudson for four two-out runs in the first inning, and came up with the big hits down the stretch as they improved their lead in the division to two games.
WIth two outs and two on in the first inning, Hudson surrendered a two-run single up the middle to Ian Desmond. Rick Ankiel then followed with a two-run triple off the wall to make the score 4-0.
Matt Diaz brought home a run with an RBI-single in the third inning to make the score 4-1, and then clubbed a two-run double in the fifth to cut the deficit to just one run.
The wheels came off in the seventh inning. After recording two quick outs Hudson walked pitcher Chien Ming Wang and gave up a double to Steve Lombardozzi. Bryce Harper drew a walk on four pitches, bringing Ryan Zimmerman up t the plate. Zimmerman deposited a ball into the left-center field gap for three runs, essentially clinching a victory for the Nats.
Jason Heyward hit a solo homer in the eighth, but that was all the club would muster in the final innings.
The two clubs will meet again on Saturday afternoon.
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