Recap: Atlanta vs. Washington
Sports Network | September 06, 2008
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Elijah Dukes hit a pair of solo homers and Ryan Langerhans had a pinch-hit go-ahead homer in the 10th inning, as the Washington Nationals edged the Atlanta Braves, 8-5, in the third contest of a four-game set. Ryan Zimmerman and Willie Harris clubbed a solo homer each for the Nats, who have won nine of their last 12 games. Starter Tim Redding went six innings and gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits to get a no-decision. Kelly Johnson had a pair of RBI for the Braves, who have dropped six of their last nine games. Yunel Escobar and Gregor Blanco both drove in a run in defeat. Starter Mike Hampton lasted seven frames and was touched for five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits. Hampton also gave up a career-high four homers in the no-decision. With the game even at five in the 10th stanza, Langerhans led off by taking a 1-1 offering from Mike Gonzalez (0-2) over the fence in right-center to give the Nats a lead. Two batters later, Cristian Guzman dropped a triple by a diving Josh Anderson in center and touched home as Zimmerman followed with a double, which brought Jorge Julio on in relief. Lastings Milledge worked a walk before a single from Dukes plated Zimmerman, giving Washington an 8-5 cushion. Steven Shell retired the Braves in order in the home 10th to get his second save. The Nats broke a scoreless tie in the second as Dukes led off with a homer over the fence in left-center field. The Braves rallied to claim the lead in the home half, though. Brian McCann led off with a walk, and two batters later it was second and third as Casey Kotchman singled and Dukes' fielding blunder advanced both runners to scoring position. Brandon Jones then offered a sac fly to left, tying the game, and Blanco gave Atlanta a 2-1 advantage with an RBI single. A pair of solo homers from Harris and Zimmerman gave Washington a 3-2 edge in the third frame. Dukes led off the fourth with a homer to left but Escobar answered with a solo blast of his own in the home half, keeping the Braves within a run. Emilio Bonifacio reached second base on Chipper Jones' fielding error to lead off the seventh, moved to third on Wil Nieves' sac bunt and made it 5-3 as pinch-hitter Anderson Hernandez clubbed a single to right field. With Washington leading 5-3 in the home ninth, Joel Hanrahan (6-3) came in for the Nats to try and close it out but gave up a lead-off single to Kotchman. Omar Infante went down swinging, but Jeff Francoeur put both runners in scoring position with a double. Pinch-hitter Greg Norton worked a walk, but Anderson whiffed for the second out. Johnson then laced a two-run ground-rule double to right-center to tie the game. Jones was then intentionally walked to load the bases, and McCann grounded out to send the game to extras. Game Notes Chipper Jones has reached base safely in 33 straight games...It was Dukes' second multi-homer game of his career...Zimmerman extended his hit streak to 12 games...The Nats are 6-6 in extra innings this season, while the Braves fell to 2-9...Washington is 11-6 against Atlanta this season, with a 4-4 mark in Dixie. Game Notes Chipper Jones has reached base safely in 33 straight games...It was Dukes' second multi-homer game of his career...Zimmerman extended his hit streak to 12 games...The Nats are 6-6 in extra innings this season, while the Braves fell to 2-9...Washington is 11-6 against Atlanta this season, with a 4-4 mark in Dixie.
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