The Atlanta Braves just might have found something in Ben Sheets. In his second start with the club since being signed earlier this month, Sheets worked six shutout innings as the Braves went on to defeat the Nationals by a score of 4-0. This was the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, with the second scheduled for 7:05 EST.
Sheets' command was not as sharp this time around. He worked in and out of trouble most of the afternoon, relying on a big double play in the third inning to get out of a jam. He surrendered five hits and three walks, striking out six in the process. His is still yet to allow a run this season with Atlanta.
Brian McCann got the Braves on the board early with a solo homer in the second. The score of 1-0 held until the eighth inning. With runners on second and third, a wild pitch from Henry Rodriguez brought Michael Bourn home to make it 2-0.
Chipper Jones came on to pinch-hit with a runner on in the ninth and smacked the first pitch he saw to the second deck in right field. It was the 463rd long ball of his career.
Kris Medlen worked two scoreless innings in relief, and Chad Durbin closed out the ninth.
The Braves are now 1.5 games back in the NL East. It'll be Randall Delgado and John Lannan in tonight's matchup. Lannan is 8-5 with a 3.25 ERA in his career against Atlanta.
For more on the club, check out Talking Chop.