Haren needed only 90 pitches, 62 for strikes, to get through eight innings, his longest outing since May 24 of last season with the Angels. He sat at 50 pitches through five innings. He walked only one batter and struck out four. In Haren’s last start, he allowed two runs over six innings, another step toward regaining his form. Thursday was a leap.
Rafael Soriano pitched an uneventful ninth for his ninth save.
Entering Thursday’s game, Haren was among the least efficient pitchers in the majors with 16.8 pitches per inning and just 42/
3 innings per outing. Against the Braves, it was like he was tossing batting practice. He averaged 11.3 pitches per inning and the Braves swung early, coughing up outs with ease.
Haren’s lone mistake came on his 67th pitch, with two out in the sixth inning, a solo home run by Dan Uggla. The run snapped the Nationals’ streak of scoreless innings at 182/
3 innings. Steve Lombardozzi singled to score Denard Span before Braves starter Kris Medlen (1-4) had retired a hitter, and Span drove in two more in the second inning with a double, giving Haren (3-3) all the support he would need.
The Nationals back-to-back strong starting pitching performances by Haren and Jordan Zimmermann on Wednesday night stifled the Braves’offense. Haren allowed back-to-back two-out singles to Freddie Freeman and Evan Gattis in the fourth inning, the first hits allowed by the team’s pitching staff in 10 innings. A fielder’s choice groundout to Ian Desmond ended the inning.
Haren allowed his fourth hit with one out in the eighth inning, a hard pinch-hit single to center field by Reed Johnson. Jordan Schafer flew out to Span, another well-struck ball. Nationals Manager Davey Johnson emerged from the dugout to talk to Haren. The infield converged on the mound and Johnson, smiling, appeared to ask Haren something. Haren was seen responding yes. Johnson walked off the mound. And with four more pitches, Haren struck out Chris Johnson and high-fived teammates as he walked into the dugout.
Haren was staked to an almost instant lead. Span doubled to right field on the fifth pitch he saw. Medlen then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Span to dash to third. Lombardozzi then snapped an 0-for-17 streak with a single to left for a 1-0 lead.
Span was the catalyst again an inning later. Adam LaRoche notched his first hit in 11 at-bats with a leadoff double to right. Anthony Rendon, in what was likely his final game before Ryan Zimmerman returns on Friday, singled. After Wilson Ramos reached on a fielder’s choice and LaRoche was out at third base, and Haren put down a sacrifice bunt, Span was up to bat again.
Span slapped a ball down the third base line, playable by third baseman Johnson. The ball, however, sputtered past him and both Rendon and Ramos scored. The play was first ruled a two-run error but a few innings later amended to a two-run single. Span, acquired in an offseason trade to hit atop the Nationals lineup and patrol center field, now has 11 RBI, one more than middle of the order hitters Jayson Werth and Desmond.
With a 3-0 lead, Haren didn’t let up. In vintage form, he continued to mow through the Atlanta lineup, efficiently looking like the pitcher they pursued this winter.
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Haren, Nationals quiet Braves bats in 3-1 victory – Washington Post
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Haren, Nationals quiet Braves bats in 3-1 victory - Washington Post
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