Washington, DC – Martin Prado knocked in two runs, Kris Medlen tossed seven scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals, 5-1, to avoid a three-game sweep.
Medlen (5-1) allowed seven hits while striking out seven and walking one for the Braves, who snapped a four-game skid. Atlanta has won the last 16 games that Medlen has started, dating to May 2010. The streak is the longest in franchise history.
"He's not a big guy, but he walks out there like, 'I know I can get you out.' He's got a few different ways to do it," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said.
David Ross and Michael Bourn had an RBI apiece in the ninth for Atlanta.
Michael Morse drove in the lone run for the National League East-leading Nationals, who hold a six-game lead over the Braves in the division.
"We try to take two of three every time we play," Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "It was a good job this series, but we have to put it behind us and go to the next."
Ross Detwiler (7-6) gave up two runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings to take the loss. He fell to 6-2 at home this season.
It was a pitchers' duel for the first four innings, but Atlanta broke through in the fifth. Tyler Pastornicky reached base on a fielder's choice and Medlen followed with a two-out walk. Prado then cleared the bases with a double to right-center field.
The Nationals wasted a golden scoring opportunity in the sixth. Jayson Werth hit a double past a diving Prado in left field, Zimmerman broke his bat on a single to center and Morse walked to load the bases with one out. But Adam LaRoche fouled out and Ian Desmond grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
With Medlen out of the game, Washington scored a run off Eric O'Flaherty in the eighth. Bryce Harper led off with a single, advanced to second on Zimmerman's groundout and scored on Morse's single. After LaRoche walked, Desmond grounded into a double play to keep it 2-1.
The Braves tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth. Jones reached first on third baseman Zimmerman's throwing error, moved to third on Freddie Freeman's double and scored on Ross' sacrifice fly. Bourn followed with an RBI single up the middle. He went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and raced home on catcher Kurt Suzuki's throwing error.
Game Notes
Washington improved to 10-5 against Atlanta this season ... The game was delayed by 29 minutes at the start due to rain ... Medlen is 4-0 in five starts since joining the rotation ... Detwiler fell to 2-1 lifetime versus Atlanta ... The Nationals went 4-2 on a six-game homestand.
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