ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves, who began the night with the most home runs in the majors, showed they can win without any.
Now Washington’s Stephen Strasburg must show his right arm is completely healthy.
Andrelton Simmons hit a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, then made a standout play to start the ninth as Atlanta beat the Nationals 3-2 on Monday night and ended its four-game losing streak.
“We battled and did the little things right,” said Simmons, the second-year shortstop. “We got the bunt down. We got the sacrifice fly to get the run in.”
Washington Manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg, who was pulled after six innings, has “a little tightness” in his right forearm.
Johnson said Strasburg was seen by a doctor after the game.
“That was a tough one,” said Johnson of the loss. “But the main thing I was a little concerned about was Strasburg.”
Strasburg, who had lost a career-worst four consecutive starts leading up to the game, said he’ll be able to make his next scheduled start. He is 1-4 with a 3.13 ERA.
Strasburg appeared to struggle to get comfortable on the mound. Johnson also noticed, saying Strasburg “doesn’t look right to me.”
“He was shaking his elbow more frequently,” Johnson said, adding Strasburg didn’t complain “but he was irritable.”
“I was really concerned,” Johnson said. “Any other time, I might have let him continue. Hopefully, it’s no more than a tired arm or something.”
Strasburg gave up 6 hits, 4 walks and 2 runs in six innings, striking out 8.
Strasburg insisted he “felt good” but struggled with his control.
“I couldn’t throw strikes early on,” Strasburg said. “I was able to kind of battle through it and keep it close.”
Atlanta beat the Nationals for the eighth consecutive time dating to last season. The Braves swept three games at Washington earlier this month.
Ian Desmond off the ninth with a slow grounder that Simmons charged. Simmons slipped as he fielded the ball and fell on his backside, but somehow made a throw that first baseman Freddie Freeman caught by making a long stretch.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen two guys do a split on the same play at the same time,” Braves closer Craig Kimbrel said.
Simmons was able to laugh about his awkward but successful throw.
“I just lost my footing,” Simmons said. “It was a little muddy. Fortunately, we’ve got Freddie helping out there. … Sometimes you’ve got to improvise to get it done.” REDS 2, CARDINALS 1 Mat Latos out-pitched Adam Wainwright, extending his scoreless innings streak to 17, and Cincinnati got an RBI apiece from Joey Votto and Xavier Paul in a victory over host St. Louis. Wainwright (4-2) trailed just six pitches in. He walked two, one intentionally, after issuing just one walk in 37 1/3 innings over his first five starts. Latos (2-0) worked around five hits and three walks.
BREWERS 10, PIRATES 4 Pitcher Yovani Gallardo (3-1) hit one of five home runs for host Milwaukee, which went back-to-back twice against Pittsburgh.
CUBS 5, PADRES 3 Darwin Barney and Cody Ransom each drove in two runs as host Chicago defeated San Diego.
AMERICAN LEAGUE INDIANS 9, ROYALS 0 Ubaldo Jimenez pitched into the eighth inning, Ryan Raburn hit two home runs and Cleveland pounded host Kansas City. Jimenez (1-2) allowed only two walks and an infield single by Billy Butler over his first seven innings. Otherwise, he kept the Royals off balance in a dazzling start that brought back memories of the pitcher who once threw a no-hitter for the Colorado Rockies.
ASTROS 9, YANKEES 1 Carlos Corporan homered among his four hits and drove in four runs, leading Houston past Andy Pettittte (3-2) and host New York.
TIGERS 4, TWINS 3 Prince Fielder’s three-run home run in the sixth inning put host Detroit ahead, and the Tigers held on for their fourth consecutive victory.
Monday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Atlanta 3, Washington 2 Miami 4, NY Mets 3, 15 inn.
Chicago Cubs 5, San Diego 3 Milwaukee 10, Pittsburgh 4 Cincinnati 2, St. Louis 1 San Francisco at Arizona, (n) Colorado at LA Dodgers, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE Houston 9, NY Yankees 1 Detroit 4, Minnesota 3 Cleveland 9, Kansas City 0 Seattle 6, Baltimore 2 LA Angels at Oakland, (n)
Sports, Pages 20 on 04/30/2013