In a Spring Training 2014 matchup, the Atlanta Braves edged the visiting Washington Nationals 3-2, helped by a Freddie Freeman two-run homer in the third.
The Braves ultimately won the game, after virtually all the starters were pulled which is typical in the late innings of Spring Training baseball, on a walk-off single by Elmer Reyes in the bottom of the ninth. The Nats had tied the game in the eighth on a Caleb Ramsey single.
Braves starter Alex Wood allowed an unearned run and four hits over four innings of work. For the Nats, Chris Young, who is trying to make the Nats rotation, went three innings and gave up three hits, two earned. Defense was shaky for both teams, which is perhaps to be expected during Spring Training,
Said Wood about his outing: “I’m not trying to do anything special. We were playing the Nationals today, and I’ll see them a lot this year, so I didn’t want to give anything away. It’s coming together.” In nine total innings of work so far, Wood has yet to be charged with an earned run.
Going into today’s Grapefruit League action, the Braves have a 5-9 record (4-3 at home), while the Nationals are 8-5 (1-4 away). The Braves play their Spring Training home games at Champion Stadium, located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida, near Lake Buena Vista and Walt Disney World in Orlando.
With Braves pitcher Kris Medlen possibly needing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the team just signed free agent Ervin Santana to a one-year, $14 million deal.
The game initially looked like it was a headed for a rainout, but the Florida showers abated fortunately for the nearly 6,000 fans in attendance, and the bright sunlight emerged to allow the contest to go forward as planned.
After Spring Training is over with, how do you think the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals will fare in the National League East during the 2014 MLB season?
