Braves 6,
Nationals 4
Late Friday
How the game was won
Despite Craig Kimbrel coughing up the lead on a two-out, game-tying home run to Anthony Rendon in the ninth inning, the Braves rallied to win in 13 innings and regained first place in the NL East by topping the Washington Nationals 6-4 at Nationals Park on Friday night.
Braves highlights
Evan Gattis extended his hitting streak to 19 games against Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg and hit a go-ahead single for the game-winning run in the 13th. … Ryan Buchter pitched the 12th inning and got the win in his major-league debut after arriving from Triple-A Gwinnett 15 minutes before pregame stretching. … The Braves are 7-1 against the Nats this season and they are 24-7 against them since August 2012.
Braves pitching
Mike Minor struck out 11 in seven innings. Minor was in position for his first win since May 19 before Kimbrel entered with a 4-2 lead and gave up the two-out homer by Rendon. … Reliever Juan Jaime made an auspicious debut, striking out two in the 11th including Rendon with two outs and a runner on. Jaime consistently pumped in 97-98 mph fastballs, and froze Sandy Leon and Rendon with 76- and 73-mph curveballs for called third strikes. … In an odd coincidence, both Buchter and Jaime, 26, began their professional careers in the Nationals organization. Buchter was a 33rd-round draft pick in 2005 and Jaime signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004.
Quoting them
“We’re struggling a little bit (lately), but we know we play well against them. We came with some confidence, and you could see it. Guys were grinding out at-bats and coming up with big hits. Pitchers kept us in the game.” — Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, whose force-out drove in the second run in the 13th inning.
“It doesn’t matter how long it is as long as we win.” — Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who had three hits including a first-inning home run off Strasburg.
“We always talk when we bring them up about how you’re going to use them, what situation. Today was extra-inning games against your division rival, in a tough ballgame. You’re going to have to use them sooner or later. Get them in their as soon as you can so they don’t have to sit around thinking about it. … They did a terrific job.” — Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.
“Anytime you pitch from behind (in the count) it’s tough. In that situation I was behind, so I was going to challenge him with my best fastball. And he beat me. That’s a good piece of hitting. Obviously you don’t want to start the inning with a leadoff walk. But in that situation I just challenged (Rendon) and he hit it out.” — Kimbrel on his fourth blown save of the season, and he has a loss and two blown saves in 12 appearances over the past three weeks.
