Brave's Slide Continues.

The Braves may be relieved that they won't have to face the Washington Nationals again until July, as the Nationals took a 13 inning affair yesterday, by a 3-2 score, and now have taken 5 of 8 from the Braves this season.

The game was dominated by the two young starters, Jair Jurrjens for the Braves, and Shawn Hill for the Nationals. The two seemingly matched each other pitch for pitch, as Jurrjens went 7 innings, allowing only 2 hits, and striking out 3. Hill went 8 innings, while allowing 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 1. Both pitchers allowed only 1 run.

The Braves took the lead in the top of the 6th with a Yunel Escobar RBI single. The Nationals tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning, with a fielders choice grounder by Felipe Lopez.

The game would go to extras, and in the 13th inning, as Mark Teixeira led the inning off with a double, and later scored on a Mark Kotsay single making it 2-1.

In what many view as a poor managerial decision by Bobby Cox, he would leave in relief pitcher Manny Acosta to hit for himself, with runners at 1st and 2nd, and 2 outs. Acosta had already pitched two innings, and it appeared Brent Lillibridge was going to pinch hit for him. But when Ruben Gotay drew a walk, Lillibridge was called back, and Acosta hit for himself. Acosta would strike out, and the Braves had to settle for the one run.

Ascota, who had struggled a bit with control his previous two innings of work, lost it completely in the bottom of the 13th. A pair of walks, including one with the bases loaded that tied the game, and a pair of fielding blunders, one by Acosta himself, led to Felipe Lopez hitting the game winning single.

The loss was the second straight to the Nationals, and fourth straight overall, dropping the Braves to 12-15 overall. The Nationals improved to 11-17

The Braves have an off day Thursday, before heading home to start a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Notes:

Ruben Gotay got the start at 2nd base Wednesday, as Kelly Johnson was a late scratch due to lower back stiffness. Johnson should be ready to go the series opener against the Reds on Friday.