Braves 6,
Nationals 3
Late Saturday
How the game was won
B.J. Upton hit a home run in a four-run first inning and Alex Wood wiggled out of jams in four consecutive innings at Turner Field. Freddie Freeman had three hits including an eighth-inning homer for the Braves.
Braves highlights
Upton had two hits and lined out in another at-bat. … Craig Kimbrel gave up an infield single in the ninth before converting his league-leading fifth save. … Evan Gattis matched a career high with three hits.
Braves lowlights
The Nationals put two runners on base with less than two outs in every inning from the second through fifth — without scoring a single run in that period. Washington’s leadoff man reached base in four of the first five innings, but the only one that scored was Rendon on his homer. … Jason Heyward is hitless in eight of his past nine games, including 0-for-19 against Washington.
Nationals highlight
Anthony Rendon hit a home run to lead off the game, the second time that Wood has allowed a leadoff homer this season.
Nationals lowlights
X-rays revealed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has a fractured right thumb that will sidelined four to six weeks. He was hurt when he dove back to second base trying (unsuccessfully) to avoid a pickoff throw by Wood to shortstop Andrelton Simmons for the second out of the fifth inning. … Center fielder Denard Span went on the 7-day concussion disabled list after colliding with Dan Uggla on the basepath on Friday night.
Notable
The Braves have won 21 of the past 28 games against the Nationals, including nine of 10 in the past two Aprils. … Wood (2-1) was charged with six hits, one run and three walks in five innings, and had eight strikeouts. He is 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 14 career starts, including a 1.57 ERA in four starts against the Nationals.
Quoting them
“I think I was coming out of the game after (striking out Adam) LaRoche. So it worked for me (to pick off Zimmerman). I was able to get through five because of it, and I’m definitely glad it happened.” — Alex Wood
“It’s been feeling better and better every day. Obviously started off kind of rough (this season), but it’s still early. Each day I’ve been feeling a little more comfortable at the plate.” — B.J. Upton
“Somehow I managed to get through five, don’t ask me how. I don’t know if I could get through that way again, but we made it through.” — Wood
“It’s pretty bad, pretty bad luck on our part. But that’s part of the game, and you’ve got to pull together as a team and pull through.” — Nationals infielder Rendon told the Washington Post. Rendon will move to third base while Zimmerman is out.
