Jenkins can’t control Nationals, Braves finish 5-5 on trip

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman continued his ownership of Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Friday, blasting a three-run homer to lead the Braves to an 8-5 victory over the Nats.

The Braves scored in the first and second innings before the Nationals rallied for three runs. All three runs came in the bottom of the first inning, and the Nationals were off to a quick 3-0 lead.

Freeman is now slashing.284/.375/.531 with a.376 wOBA, 22 homers and 53 RBI’s on the year.

Washington is a heavy -280 favorite at home and the Over/Under (O/U) for this matchup is set at seven runs. Their success, coupled with consistent production from right fielder Nick Markakis and the ever-present power-hitting ability of the aforementioned Kemp and Freeman, should make Atlanta a risky team for anyone to play down the stretch. Lopez did not last more than 4 2-3 innings in either of his first two career starts. Over his last 23 games, he’s batting.325 (27-for-83) with six homers, 21 RBI, 13 runs and nine walks.

In the top of the third, the Braves scored their first and only run an an RBI single off the bat of Erick Aybar.

Washington took a 2-1 lead in the first with Turner’s leadoff triple and Murphy’s towering drive down the right-field line. Atlanta scored one run in the eighth and four in the ninth – and might have had more if not for some over-aggressive baserunning. The Nationals didn’t make that kind of error in the home half or in rest of the game.

“Obviously I wasn’t trying to walk him”, Jenkins said. The right-hander gave up seven runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Washington’s original lineup featured Brian Goodwin in right field, but the entire order will be reshuffled following the addition of Harper into the three-spot.

Baker said Lopez would “probably” get another start, but wouldn’t commit.

NOTES: Washington RF Bryce Harper returned to the starting lineup Sunday after a five-game absence due to a neck injury.

Nationals: Harper had an MRI for his lingering neck issue, general manager Mike Rizzo announced Saturday.

Despite temperatures in the high 90s throughout the game, Roark improved to 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA over his last four starts.

Jayson Werth’s sixth-inning single extended his on-base streak to 42-games.

Harper doubled and later scored on Rendon’s sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

The Braves’ win last night was their first in Nationals Park since 9/10/14. Werth owns the longest active streak in the majors and is one game behind Ryan Zimmerman’s club record of 43 set in 2009.

The Braves’ No. 1 starting pitcher, Julio Teheran, has been on the disabled list since August 2 with a strained right lat muscle and is set to make one rehab start before returning to the major leagues, but I’m just happy that his injury had nothing to do with his pitching arm and I’m also glad that Atlanta chose to hang on to its 25-year-old ace at the August 1 trade deadline. Roark is 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 38 strikeouts in his career against the Braves. The Nationals begin a nine-game road trip Monday at Colorado.