Ramos caps Nats' rally in 8th to edge Braves
WASHINGTON -- Bryce Harper didn't get the headlines this time. It was Wilson Ramos. His RBI double in the eighth inning helped the Nationals defeat the Braves, 5-4, at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Braves gave the Nationals a battle. Left-hander Alex Wood was solid for 6 2/3 innings and had three hits.
The Nationals swept the three-game series and improved their record to 17-15, while the Braves dropped to 14-17.
Sammy Solis pitched a scoreless eighth inning of relief for his first Major League win, and Drew Storen worked the ninth for his ninth save.
Video: ATL@WSH: Storen notches a save as Nats win
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Nationals take the lead: The Nationals were able to get to Cody Martin for the second day in a row. Down, 4-3, Ryan Zimmerman tied it at 4 in the eighth inning when he singled up the middle, scoring Ian Desmond, while Zimmerman came home on a double by Ramos. More >
Video: ATL@WSH: Zimmerman ties game with RBI single
"He has a knack for driving runs in because he stays in the middle of the diamond and goes the other way so well," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He just stays on the ball so well. He has been swinging at strikes, being patient enough to get those pitches. He has delivered for us. He is playing well."
Using that Wood: Wood battled his counterpart on the hill by holding the Nationals to three runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. At the plate, he dominated Jordan Zimmermann. Wood singled in each of his three plate appearances against the Nats' starter, including an RBI hit during the two-run second. Entering the day, Wood was 3-for-68 with 48 strikeouts for his career. More >
Freeman for President: Freddie Freeman's impressive and long-standing dominance against Washington continued and led to the go-ahead rally in the seventh. Freeman's second hit of the game, a single to center, started the frame. He took third as Harper misplayed Jonny Gomes' fly ball, putting runners on the corner, Freeman scored on Callaspo's flair to right for a 4-3 lead. He finished 2-for-4 with a double and walk, though his long fly in the ninth was caught at the warning track. For his career, Freeman is batting .340 (99 for 291) with nine homers and 44 RBIs in 79 games.
Video: ATL@WSH: Peterson scores Freeman with RBI single
Zimmermann has shaky outing: Zimmermann received a no-decision, but allowed three runs in six innings. He had a tough time against Wood, who went 3-for-3. Zimmerman threw 44 pitches after two innings and 90 pitches after five innings.
"It could have been better, for sure," Zimmermann said. "They get three runs from me in the first. I can't lock it down. I threw a lot of pitches, a lot of fastballs. The command wasn't really there. The second inning took a lot out of me. I was happy to make it six innings and keep them in the ballgame."
Powerless Harper: Harper didn't hit any homers like he did his previous three games, but he went 2-for-4 with an RBI, which came in the first inning, when he doubled to center field, scoring Yunel Escobar.
Video: ATL@WSH: Harper puts Nationals on board with double
REPLAY REVIEWS
The Braves challenged two calls that initially went against them. In both cases, replay favored Atlanta's side. With two runners on two outs and Harper batting in the fifth, Wood picked off Dan Uggla at second base.
Video: ATL@WSH: Safe call at second overturned in the 5th
In the sixth, Harper led off with a single, but was wiped out on a double-play grounder by Zimmerman. The umpire ruled Zimmerman beat the throw, but replay said otherwise.
Video: ATL@WSH: Safe call at first overturned in the 6th
QUOTABLE
"Oh, god. High school, easily. And they didn't come very often in high school. It's been a long time." -- Wood, on his last three-hit game
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
For the week, Harper went 10-for-16 with six home runs, 13 RBIs and eight runs scored.
WHAT'S NEXT
Braves: Shelby Miller (4-1, 1.66 ERA) hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of six starts this season. The righty's best outing came in his previous start as he tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout against the Phillies on Tuesday. However, his lone loss came against the Reds and Mike Leake (2-1, 2.47), who he'll oppose in the opener of the three-game road series against Cincinnati at 7:10 p.m. ET on Monday.
Nationals: The Nationals to the West Coast for seven games beginning on Monday with Max Scherzer (2-3, 2.11 ERA) starting against his former team. The first three games will be played in Arizona starting Monday at 9:40 p.m. ET. Last year, the Nationals had their way with Arizona, going 6-1.
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