WASHINGTON (AP) -- Brandon Beachy made one mistake in
his matchup with Stephen Strasburg.
It was one too
many.
Beachy allowed just three hits, one a home run
to Jesus Flores, and the Atlanta Braves lost to the Washington Nationals
2-0 on Saturday.
Beachy, who has the National
League's lowest ERA, kept the Nationals off the scoreboard through four
innings. Three of his four walks came during that early stretch, but
Washington's only hit was a single by Ian
Desmond.
Then Nationals catcher Jesus Flores led off
the fifth with a homer on a 1-2 count over the left-center field
wall.
"Wasn't supposed to be elevated or over the
plate," Beachy said. "That's what happens when you
miss."
Strasburg pitched four-hit ball for seven
sharp innings.
The Braves entered the series having
won two straight, but have now lost 9 of 11. The series opener on Friday
was rained out.
Beachy (5-4), who has lost three
straight decisions, allowed a second run after a one-out walk in the
seventh eventually came around to score against the Braves bullpen.
Overall Beachy gave up three hits and struck out six over 6 1-3
innings.
"We couldn't have asked more out of Beachy,"
said Braves second baseman Dan Uggla. "He went out there and did his
thing again."
So did Strasburg (6-1) -- and then
some. He completed seven shutout innings for the first time in his major
league career. He opened the game with a flourish, striking out the
first four batters.
Strasburg struck out nine, walked
none and threw 90 pitches. Twice he gave up singles and then induced
double-play grounders.
"That's the best I've seen him
throw. He basically could do whatever he wanted today," Braves catcher
Brian McCann said. "You throw that hard and you can command it like
that, it makes it tough on the hitters."
Uggla struck
out twice and grounded into a double play against Strasburg. In his
previous at-bats against him, Uggla was 6 for 8 with two home runs and
seven RBIs.
Playing defense in the seventh inning,
McCann left the game after a pitch from Braves reliever Jonny Venters
hit the catcher near his left knee. McCann sustained a bruise and is day
to day.
Strasburg allowed multiple baserunners just
once -- in the third when Jose Constanza doubled and Michael Bourn
singled with one out.
Sean Burnett gave up two
singles in a scoreless eighth and Tyler Clippard pitched a perfect ninth
for his fourth save in fifth chances.
Flores' drive
into the left field bullpen was his second home run of the
year.
In the seventh, Beachy was pulled with one out
after Danny Espinosa walked. Espinosa stole second and Chad Durbin
walked Flores.
Both runners moved up on the wild
pitch from Venters. Espinosa scored on pinch-hitter Xavier Nady's double
to right.
"Can't make mistakes in a game like that
and I made far too many of them," said a frustrated Beachy, now with a
1.87 ERA. "I put people on and they're going to
score."
NOTES: Atlanta SS
Andrelton Simmons made his major league debut. He was 0 for 3. ...
Washington RF Michael Morse made his season debut after missing nearly
the first two months of the season with a strained back muscle. He
grounded out to short in all four at-bats. ... Nationals manager Davey
Johnson said that C Wilson Ramos would miss the rest of the season
because doctors were unable to repair his torn anterior cruciate
ligament and torn meniscus at the same time. When doctors repaired the
meniscus, they thought the ligament needed time to heal and the ACL
surgery will have to wait. ... Washington RHP Brad Lidge (sports hernia)
says he'll have three rehab appearances next week for Class A Potomac.
... Braves RHP Tommy Hanson (5-4, 3.84) will pitch against Nationals LHP
Gio Gonzalez (7-1, 2.04) on Sunday.
