The top two teams in the NL East will clash on Sunday afternoon, when the Washington Nationals battle the Atlanta Braves from SunTrust Park. On Saturday, Wilmer Difo tripled and then scored in the 14th inning to lead the Nationals to a 5-3 victory over the Braves. SP Gio Gonzalez struck out nine batters over seven innings and did not factor in the decision.
Thirty-one year old righty Jeremy Hellickson (2-0 2.30 ERA) will make his ninth start of the season for the Nationals. Washington has won each of Hellickson’s last five starts and he has allowed just four runs over his last 27 plus innings.
The Atlanta Braves took the first two games of this series and have won 34 of their first 58 games overall. On Saturday, Ender Inciarte and Ozzie Albies went hitless in six at-bats apiece in a losing effort for the Braves. Johan Camargo connected on a three-run blast for Atlanta, who leads Washington by a half-game for first place.
The Braves will counter with thirty-four year old righty Anibal Sanchez (1-0 3.00 ERA) on Sunday. Through 18 innings this year, Sanchez has allowed three long balls and walked eight batters.
