ATLANTA 6 Washington 2 (ESPN Boxscore)

The Nats had their best chance to get some runs in the first inning with three singles, but runners got tagged out at home and third and they came away with nothing. They would get on the board first with Ryan Langerhans knocking in Brian Schneider with a double, but the Braves responded with three home runs over the 3rd and 5th innings. 1B Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit two solo shots and CF Andruw Jones hit one with two on to account for all but one of the Braves six runs. PH Chris Woodward knocked C Brian McCann in for the final Braves run, charged to Chris Schroder. Mike Bacsik took the loss for Washington while journeyman Buddy Carlyle earned the win with 7 innings of 5 hit, 1 run pitching.

Nats Waste Chance, Get Outslugged – The Post

Nats hit new low, fall to Braves – The Wash. Times

Both broadsheets report on the return of Robert Fick (The Post) from bereavement leave (The Wash. Times). Hopefully, having a foul mouthed joker in the clubhouse will motivate the team to greater success. Charlie Slowes said tha Fick wasn’t allowed to hang out in the dugout, so Fick hung out in the broadcast booths (The Wash. Times). I wish I had heard/seen it.

To make room for Fick, 00 Brandon Watson was sent down.

Thomas Boswell has nothing but praise for Cristian Guzman in today’s Post. I can’t help but feel Bos goes overboard here.