Stephen Strasburg wasn’t sharp, but he pitched around trouble long enough, and Washington came through with a three-run seventh to complete a sweep of Atlanta, 3-1, on Wednesday.
Strasburg (1-0) gave up a run on six hits in six innings of work, striking out four and walking three. He got big help from center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who threw out two Braves baserunners trying to stretch singles into doubles in the fourth.
The Nats tied the game in the seventh on a two-out infield single by Wilson Ramos that scored a hustling Ryan Zimmerman all the way from second.
After an intentional walk to Danny Espinosa, pinch-hitter Matt den Dekker, just called up from Triple-A Syracuse, doubled to right-center off Bud Norris (0-1) to score Ramos and Espinosa.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched around trouble in the ninth to record his second save of the season.
Zimmerman, Ramos and Espinosa each had two hits for Washington.
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Chris Graham
