Braves Beat Nats in Finale

In the final meeting against the Washington Nationals this season, the Atlanta Braves came out on top 5-2 thanks to some intensity that was created by rookie pitcher Alex Wood and manager Fredi Gonzalez.
The Braves had eight hits in the game. Justin Upton and Jordan Schafer led the team with two hits apiece, Upton also hit a two-run homer that put the Braves on top for good in the sixth inning, it was his 26th of the year. Schafer also added an RBI and scored a run, it's the first good day he has had at the plate in awhile. Dan Uggla broke up Ross Ohlendorf's no-hitter in the sixth with a solo homer, his 22nd of the season, which also got Atlanta on the board. Brian McCann had an RBI double to complete the scoring for the Braves who also got hits from Evan Gattis and Chris Johnson.
Wood made the start for the Braves and he was doing well until running into trouble in the fifth. He appeared to strike Jayson Werth out but the umpire didn't call strike three and instead it walked in a run. Wood was hot and started cursing out the umpire, Gonzalez came out of the dugout and got thrown out immediately. Wood stayed in the game for one more batter and gave up a sacrifice fly before getting thrown out while he was being taken out of the game. Apparently that fired the Braves up though and the bats got going in the next inning to give the Braves a victory.
Wood ended up pitching four and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs, both unearned, on six hits while striking out three. Kameron Loe came in and got the final out of the fifth inning and he earned the victory moving his record to 2-3 on the year. Anthony Varvaro pitched a perfect sixth inning while striking out a batter. Luis Ayala, Scott Downs and David Carpenter combined to pitch a scoreless seventh before Carpenter came back out and pitched a perfect eighth. Craig Kimbrel redeemed himself from the day before and pitched a perfect ninth for his 48th save of the year.
The Braves are now 90-62 on the season and they will have an off day on Thursday before starting at three-game weekend series in Chicago with the Cubs on Friday at 2:20 p.m. Paul Maholm (10-10) will return to the mound after an extended period of rest for his elbow while Scott Baker (0-0) will start for the Cubs.

Fredi Gonzalez is ejected by the home plate umpire after arguing a called ball four in the fifth inning. Alex Wood was also ejected in the inning which in turn fired the Braves up as Atlanta beat Washington 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports