Shooting in Washington; Tonight's game uncertain

Washington — BREAKING — Earlier this morning, a gunman opened fire in a Navy Shipyard just blocks away from Nationals park, where the Braves are to play the Nationals tonight at 7:05 p.m. It is believed that 4 have been killed, including a security guard and a city police officer, and 6 others have been injured. One suspect is believed to be killed and the other has yet to be reported on. (CNN.COM) 

The Nationals have already held a meeting with law enforcement and were informed to tell its players to stay home. As of now, Nationals players "have been cleared" to head to the park at their own convenience. Braves players have not been informed to stay at their hotel (David O'brien) and their bus is leaving as planned for the stadium. The game tonight is still uncertain and that information will come sooner than later hopefully.

Dan Haren and Mike Minor are due to start tonight for the teams but their is a major possibility they could get an extra day of rest and battle it out tomorrow. Braves can clinch the division if they win the series in Washington. Stay posted for further information.

(Shane Tuchscherer)

Braves shutout; Magic number stays at 4

Burch Smith, San Diego's rookie pitcher, almost had a place in Padres history. The rookie had a stellar day in only his 5th major league start going 7 innings, with 10 strikeouts and took a no-hitter into the 6th innings. Smith had plenty to work with, having Chase Headley hit a 2 run homer in the 6th, the 3rd of the weekend, and Tommy Medica putting his own solo shot in the stands in the following inning. That made the score 4-0 and it would stay that way after 9 innings.

Julio Teheran had the pleasure of breaking up the rookies no-hitter in the bottom of the 6th, with a single to center field. The Braves would only end up getting 3 more hits and could not push any runs across home plate despite having opportunities against Smith. Teheran looked just as good as Smith until the Padres got to him. He was pulled after the home-run to Medica in the 7th.

The Braves offense is in that usual September slump everyone has come to hate over the past couple of seasons. They have set themselves up with a win-win situation heading to Washington for a 3 game series that starts tomorrow. With the magic number at 4, its plain and simple, win the series and you win the division. If it can't be at home, why not do it in front of the team that was predicted to win the division and has had bitter feelings ever since that Bryce Harper incident.

Teheran has to give much appreciation to his defense due to the fact that he started this game in a jam and Justin Upton snagged a foul ball, sliding near the left field wall and Freddie Freeman making his usual heroic diving stop at first base to get Teheran out of his jam.

Remember the Braves are on that 7 man rotation right now to give Maholm more rest and set up the rotation for the the playoffs. Teheran isn't due to start again until next sunday when the Braves finish up their road-trip at Chicago Cubs.

(Shane Tuchscherer)

Kris Medlen strong outing cuts magic number to 4

ATLANTA -- Kris Medlen improves his post all-star record to 8-3 and has posted an ERA of 1.31 thus far in the month of September. Medlen went 7 1/3 innings giving up 4 hits, all singles, and struck out 5 in the Braves 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Medlen sits on a 3.32 ERA for the season, much better than what he posted going into All-star break. Medlen has definitely proven himself in the second half of this season as a top 3 post season starter for the Braves. The Braves have 8 of his last 9 starts, reported by Eric Single (MLB.com).

"He mixed all of his pitches up, and boy, we pushed him as far as we could push him to try to get him through that eighth inning," Fredi Gonzalez said. (MLB.com)

Chris Johnson pushed the Braves infront in the fourth innings with a single that scores Justin Upton. Freddie Freeman had a big night going 3-for-3 in which one of those hits was a solo shot in the 6th innings. Freeman has definitely done his part as of lately in this slumping Braves offense. In the process, the Braves first baseman notched his 99th RBI, bringing him within 10 of NL leader Paul Goldschmidt and just one from the first 100-RBI year of his young career.

The one Padres run came in the top of the ninth when Chase Headley led of with his own solo shot of Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel would eventually record 3 outs and gather up his MLB leading 47th save of this season.

"I think tonight more than even the past few, I established all three pitches early," Medlen said. "I knew I was going to have to establish all three, and usually it takes a couple innings to kind of get the curveball going, but everything felt really good from the get-go, and I just mixed pitches pretty nicely." (MLB.com)

The Braves finish up the 3 game set today against the Padres before heading on the road to Washington in what could potentially be where they clinch the division. 

(Shane Tuchscherer)

Washingtons Zimmerman shuts down Braves

Atlanta -- One night after Tim Hudson put the team on his back and locked up his 200th win, Washington's young ace Jordan Zimmerman came out to end the party.

The Braves had been on a nine game win streak dating back to last year against the Nationals while never having to face Zimmerman, they werent lucky on game No. 10. Zimmerman came out tonight with a rough start for his team on his shoulders and he was determined to start a turnaround. Zimmerman went 8 innings, near to perfection, with 8 strikeouts and only giving up 2 hits. He retired his last 17 batters until Rafael Soriano came out in the ninth inning to shut it down.

Zimmerman's enemy on the mound, Paul Maholm, was just as effective except for his only slip up which came in the 4th inning when he gave up a 2-run home run to shortstop Ian Desmond, who was batting in the cleanup spot for the first time in his Nationals career. Maholm struck out 4 and only gave up 3 hits (one being crucial) over 8 innings. He also retired 15 of his last 16 batters faced.

Bryce Harper left the game early after taking a check swing at the plate that "set him back" and caused him to lose his breath. Harper on the night before had collided with the right field scoreboard, protected with a chain linked fence, when trying to rob Hudson of a home run.

It was a night of the pitchers in Atlanta. Zimmerman coming off his first career shutout and Maholm off to arguably his best start ever. Yet, Zimmerman proved to be spectacular with no mistakes and proved that he wasn't gonna cause his team to worry when he's on the mound.

(Shane Tuchscherer)

Tim Hudson earns Win No. 200

ATLANTA -- Tim Hudson wasn't going to have another chance at 200 slip away from him tonight.

 Hudson looked to his inner youth and found what he had back from his Auburn Tiger days. Hudson went 7 strong innings, only giving up 3 hits to the Washington Nationals and making sure even he couldn't beat himself by hitting a double in his first at bat and then a solo homerun to right field in the 5th inning (With the help of Bryce Harper).

On a night where history was to be made, the Braves made sure they were going to help their veteran pitcher lock up his milestone and join the greats he has followed like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman each went 3 for 5 on the night, with Freeman putting forth 3 RBI's and Simmons hitting a solo shot to lead off the game for his only contribution in the RBI column. Even Gattis, aka El Oso Blanco, hit in 2 runs and continued to show his worthiness to this Braves team.

Bryce Harper was only 9 years old when Hudson got win No. 1 of his career against a Los Angeles Dodgers team carrying modern day Nationals Manager, Davey Johnson.

Hudson did flirt with a no-hitter until the fifth inning until Nationals left fielder, Matt Moore, hit a long double towards right field. He then scored the Nationals only run of the night with the help of Wilson Ramos.

Hudson clinched No. 200 and the Braves locked up their ninth straight win against the Nats, dating back to last season. Hudson sits at a career winning percentage of .656. There are only six pitchers with 200 wins to have a better winning percentage, Roy Halladay being the only active player to be included.

The crowd made sure show their love for Hudson when they showed him heading to the clubhouse on the big screen and even more when he came out for his curtain call after the final out had been made on this historical night. It was a fun night to be apart of and with how this season is going, there are sure to be more in store.

(Shane Tuchscherer)

As Seen on SportsNation. Yes, this is me

I felt like an all-star, LOL.

Braves win streak snapped

On Wednesday afternoon, on a day just as hot as the team playing, the Atlanta Braves 10 game win streak came to an end. The Kansas City Royals were feeling bitter from the home run derby the Braves put on the night before, so Wade Davis came out to make sure they wouldn't have a repeat.

Davis pitched a strong 7 innings with 7 strikeouts, 5 hits allowed, and no batters walked to help his team to a 1-0 win. The Braves offense has looked promising thus far but they couldn't produce today  with Davis dealing on the mound in his first season back as a starter and weren't necessarily getting the calls behind the plate. (But really, its where it crosses the plate, not where it ends end up in the catchers hit)

The Royals were a little more consistent with their bats but even with more hits they could only manage one run, one run that proved to be enough. The only RBI hit of the game came from former Atlanta Braves favorite, Jeff Francouer. Returning to his home state for first time since joining Kansas City, it was only necessary he get the RBI that would end the Braves win streak. He hit a line drive down the left line that drove in Alcides Escobar.

Mike Minor had another solid outing to his already hot start to the season, but with the bad calls and lack there of offense, he couldn't add another W to his record. Plus the former right fielder who rained on his parade. He's 2-1 on the season with a 0.95 ERA and with Mike Minors track record, that says a lot for how productive he can be this season if he stays away from key mistakes like the one he gave up to Frenchy today.

The Braves only opportunity for a chance to tie the game came in the bottom of the 7th when Freddie Freeman's temporary replacement, Chris Johnson hit a blooper in right field that second baseman Chris Getz couldn't come up with. Juan Francisco was rounding second when the ball dropped and went behind the tarp down the first base side and Third base coach, Snedcker, saw this as a chance to send him home (I don't know why, this is Juan Francisco were talking about....) and he was tagged out by 15 feet  to end the inning.

It was a game that people called in sick to work for, in hopes of seeing another game added onto the win streak. Kansas City is heading to Boston where the first home game will be played since the Boston Marathon Massacre that took place on Monday. The Braves will have to start a new chance at another win streak when they start their 10 game road trip today against the Pittsburgh Pirates.