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Atlanta Braves Swept by Nats, Lose 12th Straight 8-4

By Jonathan Savitske

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The Atlanta Braves fell once again on Sunday in Washington, DC to the Nationals by a final score 0f 8-4, losing their 12th consecutive game.

This loss also marks the Atlanta Braves 19th loss in their last 20 games. The Braves struggles continued to compound during Sunday’s defeat, as starting pitcher Manny Banuelos was shelled by the Nationals during his 2.0 innings of work, giving up 7 runs (6 earned) on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3.

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Sunday’s contest was another game in which one of the Braves’ young rookies struggled and was pulled from the game early on. After only winning 1 game over the past few weeks, the Atlanta Braves and their players seem to have a losing mentality, thinking that before the game even begins that will not come out victorious.

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    • The Atlanta Braves did get out to a good start, as Nick Markakis led off the game with a hit. Nick Swisher would then drive in the Braves’ right-fielder to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Braves early. That would be the extent of the damage to the Nats in the top of the 1st.

    The Nationals have had a wonderful weekend at the plate at the expense of Atlanta Braves pitchers, scoring 37 runs in the series. The Nats got out of to a fast start on Sunday against Banuelos, as Michael Taylor doubled home Yunel Escobar and Ian Desmond off of the Braves’ rookie, giving the Nats a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd. Banuelos’s struggles would continue in the 2nd inning, as Jayson Werth hit a 3-run homer, scoring Michael Taylor and Joe Ross to increase the Nationals’ lead to 5-1.

    The bottom of the 3rd was another bad inning for Manny Banuelos and the Atlanta Braves, as Bryce Harper continued his torrid stretch against the Braves by hitting a solo homer. More shoddy defense was present on Sunday, as an error by Adonis Garcia allowed Yunel Escobar to score, giving the Nats a 7-1 lead.

    The Atlanta Braves would get a run back in the 4th inning, as Michael Bourn would leg out an infield single to bring home Nick Swisher, inching the Braves closer at 7-2. The Nats got that run back in bottom of the 4th, as Anthony Rendon homered off of Sugar Ray Marimon, making the score 8-2.

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    The Atlanta Braves tried to mount a comeback that would ultimately prove futile in the top of the 5th inning, as A.J. Pierzynski singled home Jace Peterson to make the score 8-3. Nick Swisher would record his second RBI of the game in the inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Freddie Freeman, giving the game its decisive 8-4 final score.

    Rookie Matt Wisler entered the game for the Atlanta Braves in relief in the top of the 5th, only 3 days after his last start where he only lasted 2 innings. Wisler pitched well in his two innings of work, shutting out the Nationals and only allowing one walk. Wisler looked more composed than he did on Thursday, and had great action on his fastball.

    The way the Atlanta Braves have been playing of late is simply unnacceptable. As a fan, I don’t care if the team is in a “rebuilding” or “re-tooling” phase. It looks as if the players have mentally checked out, and Fredi Gonzalez and the coaching staff cannot get through to them. At this point, I just want to see the team try hard to win, like they did on Friday.

    The Atlanta Braves head to Philadelphia to face the Phillies on Monday for a 3-game set. Williams Perez is scheduled to start against former Brave Aaron Harang. 

    Next: Braves Dismantled by Nats 8-2, Lose 11th Straight

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