Atlanta Braves Rally from Nine-Run Deficit to Defeat Washington

The Atlanta Braves rallied from a nine-run deficit to defeat the Nationals 11-10 in 11 innings last night and move within 2 1/2 games of first-place Washington in the National League East division.

Host Washington built a 9-0 lead after five innings, thanks in large part to three-run homers by Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman. Atlanta scored four runs in the sixth inning and four more in the eighth to pull within a run.

Michael Bourn hit a two-run triple in the top of the ninth to give the Braves their first lead at 10-9, only to have Danny Espinosa hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to send the game into extra innings.

Paul Janish had a run-scoring single in the 11th for Atlanta’s decisive run.

The New York Mets, who lost 7-6 at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers, are in third place in the NL East, seven games behind Washington. Johan Santana (6-7) took the loss for the Mets, allowing six runs on seven hits in three innings.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rob Gloster at rgloster@bloomberg.net