Heyward back in lineup after neck issue subsides

WASHINGTON -- Jason Heyward returned to the Braves' lineup on Wednesday with no reason to worry about the freak neck ailment that forced him to exit Tuesday night's game against the Nationals in the first inning.

When Heyward awoke on Wednesday morning, he was no longer dealing with the headache he developed after he fouled the second pitch of Tuesday's game and felt a sensation run up his neck and through the back of his head as he stepped out of the batter's box.

"I've never had that before," Heyward said. "I'm glad we got it [addressed] last night and I feel better."

The 12-game winning streak the Braves carried into Wednesday began the day Heyward was moved into the leadoff spot. Heyward has batted .310 with a .420 on-base percentage and a .548 slugging percentage during this span. And he continued his success by stroking a double leading off Wednesday's game and then coming around to score on Freddie Freeman's RBI single.

"I want to be in every game I can," Heyward said. "It's a fun time of year for us. It's a good time of year for us. Every win counts for us right now. We've got to keep it going."