{"id":20838,"date":"2013-04-15T05:29:40","date_gmt":"2013-04-15T09:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yurasko.net\/wfy\/?p=20838"},"modified":"2013-04-15T05:29:40","modified_gmt":"2013-04-15T09:29:40","slug":"lost-weekend-for-nats-as-braves-sweep-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yurasko.net\/wfy\/2013\/04\/lost-weekend-for-nats-as-braves-sweep-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost weekend for Nats as Braves sweep them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oh man, tough, tough weekend for the Washington Nationals. They got swept by the Atlanta Braves, who are off to a very strong start and already hold a 4 game lead in the division. It is a long season. Especially when you are reminded more of 2008 than 2012. It isn’t time to panic, but the team has some stuff to work through. Also, Danny Espinosa needs to shut up<\/a> (Hardball Talk<\/em>). So does Stephen Strasburg. If your team gets swept, you aren’t the better team. It has been proven. Now go, get better<\/a> (The Post<\/em>) and return the favor at the end of the month and be the better team again.<\/p>\n

Also, can you imagine if Bryce Harper<\/strong> had said what Espinosa said?<\/p>\n

The heartbreak of the series though – Wilson Ramos is on the DL<\/a> with a bad hamstring. Kurt Suzuki<\/strong> will get the bulk of the catching responsibilities for at least 15 days with Jhonatan Solano<\/strong> who had to wait 20 minutes due to the “rule prohibiting teams from having more than 25 active players in the clubhouse at once.” Just what a guy who woke up at 4 a.m. and flew in from Syracuse needs. Hey, I work up at 4 a.m. today! I wasn’t in Syracuse though.<\/p>\n

FRIDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stopper Ross Detwiler was done in by the bullpen again. Detwiler left after 7 innings with a 4-1 lead. He’s been the best D.C. starter thus far out of the 5th spot in the rotation. Tyler Clippard<\/strong>, Drew Storen<\/strong> and Craig Stammen<\/strong> blew it, as did Ryan Zimmerman<\/strong>, who made a critical throwing error in the ninth while playing in his 1000th game.
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\nSATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another Zimmerman error proves to be the difference as the third baseman extends the inning for the Braves, who capitalized with a Evan Gattis<\/strong> homer. Strasburg was okay, striking out seven and giving up no earned runs.<\/p>\n

SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gio Gonzalez, fresh off of his visit to see D.C. United (2-0 loss to Red Bull NY) stunk up the joint, giving up 7 earned runs.<\/p>\n

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.@nationals<\/a> pitcher @giogonzalez47<\/a> visited RFK last night to cheer on #DCU<\/a>: bit.ly\/17zELJh<\/a> #StandUp4DC<\/a><\/p>\n

— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 14, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n