2/25/18 4:30pm
Swanson’s 1st inning solo homer isn’t enough as Braves fall 3-9 to the Nationals
Photo: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
By. Andrew Rodberg
On Sunday afternoon, the Braves faced the Nationals for Game #3 of the 2018 Spring Training Schedule. In doing so, the Braves sent Scott Kazmir to the mound to face the Nationals All-Star pitcher, Max Scherzer.
With the game starting at 1:00pm, the Braves switched up the batting order and placed highly touted OF Ronald Acuna in the lead-off spot with Dansby Swanson to follow. Acuna without a hit in his first game came out and hit a ground-ball to start today’s contest. The next batter, Dansby Swanson came up to the plate and smashed a monster home-run to left field to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. That lead would unfortunately not last as the Braves young arms began to have difficulty getting the National’s batters out.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Braves looked to Lucas Sims to do some work but after giving up 3 consecutive singles, the Nationals took a 2-1 lead. More of the same came in the 4th after sending yet another young arm, Max Fried to the mound who gave up a walk followed by a 2 run home-run by Matt Wieters to extend the National’s lead to 4-1.
With the Braves now flustered and on the ropes, the Nationals made a full lineup change in the top of the 5th and the Braves slowly began to come back. The Nationals issued a walk to speedy Christian Colon who stole 3rd base and forced a fielding error that allowed him to score in the 5th to cut into the National’s lead 2-4 but the bleeding wouldn’t stop…
In the bottom of the 6th, the Braves sent Luke Jackson to the mound in relief and he just didn’t have his stuff. After giving up 2 walks and 3 singles, the Nationals blew the game wide open with 5 earned runs and pushed their lead to 9-2. The scoring stopped for both squads until the top of the 8th when Braves 1B Carlos Franco crushed a ball on a 3-1 count into left field to give the Braves a 3-9 final.
Swanson HR: mlb.com/…/swansons-solo-jack/c-1877061683
Franco HR: mlb.com/…ancos-solo-home-run/c-1877513783
Looking Ahead:
The Braves now head back to Champion Stadium in Orlando to face the Nationals yet again tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm.
Key Notes:
The Braves have yet to play Markakis, Freeman, Inciarte, Flowers or Suzuki so far this Spring Training.
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