Nats Implode at the End for Loss, Braves Win Fourth Straight Game
The Washington Nationals (42-41) had righty ace Stephen Strasburg (4-6) on the mound for seven scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers (33-49) on Tuesday evening but when his good work came to an end in the eighth inning so did the team’s chance for a win. Reliever Drew Storen (2-2) jumped on the mound and allowed four runs over the final two innings.
The Brewers won 4-0 and snapped a six-game losing streak. For the Nationals, it was the ninth time they have endured a shutout this season.
Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg had eight strikeouts and gave up three hits; his ERA dropped to 2.24 after this outing. The player has heard the grumblings before about his teammates letting him down after he sets them up with good pitching and said via the Associated Press after this latest chapter, “You know, I’m tired of talking about that. These guys battle every single day, just like I do, and it just didn’t work out for us tonight. But I’d like to get over that. I’d like to stop answering questions about run support.”
In the eighth inning, the Brewers got on the scoreboard after a double by Juan Francisco enabled teammates Logan Schafer and Rickie Weeks to score and two batters later, Francisco also scored, followed by Martin Maldonado.
For the Brewers, starting righty Wily Peralta was on his way to his own shutout game until the sixth inning when he exited to the game due to a strained left hammy. Righty Jim Henderson (3-2) was one of four Brewers relievers who came in to help;  he got the win.
The Nationals entered the season with high expectations and now they sit seven games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (49-34).
On Wednesday, this four-game series will continue in D.C. It’s currently a split one and the Nationals will look to change this with lefty Ross Detwiler (2-6) on the mound. This could be a challenge as the pitcher is winless over his last five pitching starts (7.15 ERA) while receiving five runs of support during these games.
The Brewers will try to keep their win streak alive by putting righty Kyle Lohse (3-6) on the mound. He is coming off a good month of June where he went 2-0 (2.34 ERA) from 34 2/3 innings of pitching.
The Nationals are not happy about Tuesday’s game and will get the win on Wednesday (-138, 8 o/u).
Braves Rout Marlins, 11-3
Keeping their win streak alive, the Braves crushed the NL worst Miami Marlins (30-52) 11-3 on Tuesday.
Chris Johnson
The team got a season-high 16 hits and tied their season-high run total in the game. But the night belonged to the Braves Chris Johnson’s two-run double on two outs in the sixth inning that broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Braves a 5-3 lead. After that, the wheels came off for the Marlins as the Braves got four runs and never surrendered the lead for the remainder of the game.
In fact, the Marlins never scored again after the sixth inning but for the Braves, Johnson, along with Brian McCann and Justin Upton, each had three hits for the night.
The winning pitcher was Braves righty Kris Medlin (6-7) who allowed three runs, nine hits and two walks over his six innings.
The Marlins had rookie righty Tom Koehler (1-5) on the mound. He allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits over his five innings.
For now, the Braves look pretty unstoppable and sit at +800 to win this year’s World Series. It’s one game at a time and on Wednesday they’ll continue their three-game series against the Marlins in Game 2.
Lefty Mike Minor (8-3) will pitch for the Braves against Marlins righty Rickly Nolasco (4-8). Look for a fifth straight Braves win (-205, 7.5 o/u).
