The Atlanta Braves had plenty of opportunities to win on Friday night, but errors loomed very costly for the club as they lost 5-4. It is their second consultive one-run loss at home.
The Nationals scored in the second inning on a two-out, RBI-single from the pitcher, Ross Detwiler. It was his first hit of the season. In the third, Randall Delgado recorded two quick outs, but back-to-back-to-back errors from Jack Wilson, Chipper Jones and Andrelton Simmons moved two runners into scoring position. Ian Desmond then singled to left field, bringing both runners home. Jesus Flores followed in the fourth inning with a solo homer to make the score 4-0.
The Braves mounted a rally in the seventh. Martin Prado singled in a run and Michael Bourn drove in another with a sacrifice fly, bringing up Andrelton Simmons with a runner on and two outs. Simmons took a hanging curveball and sent it over the left field wall, tying the game up at 4-4.
The tie did not last long. On the first pitch thrown by Chad Durbin in the eighth, Michael Morse sent it deep into the right field stands to give the Nationals a 5-4 lead once again.
The Braves showed signs of life in the ninth. Freddie Freeman led off the inning with a double and Martin Prado drew a one-out walk, but Eric Hinske, Bourn and Simmons all recorded outs on fly balls to end the threat.
It was a tough loss for Atlanta, and now they'll face two All-Stars in Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez this weekend.