NL East Wrap: Braves down Nationals

The Phillies lost the second game of their three-game series with the Miami Marlins Saturday afternoon, 3-2 (see story).

Starter Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings by only giving up three runs, but the offense was unable to manufacture any significant offensive production other than a sacrifice fly from Shane Victorino and a seventh inning solo homer by Hunter Pence.

The Phillies also sent Jim Thome to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for two minor leaguers (see story).

Here’s a look at the other games from the NL East on Saturday:

Braves down Nationals
The Braves defeated the Nationals in scorching-hot Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, 7-5 (see full recap).

The temperature topped out at 104-degrees and the heat forced Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg to leave in the third inning. Strasburg had already given up three runs off of two hits and four walks.

Atlanta took advantage of the scrambling Washington pitching staff, by jumping out to a 7-2 lead by the fifth inning behind four RBI doubles.

The Nationals were able to climb back within two runs, but Braves closer Craig Kimbrel had a shut down ninth inning to earn his 23rd save on the season.

Mets blank Dodgers
The Mets beat the Dodgers, 5-0. The loss was the Dodgers' seventh straight and the 11th loss in their last 12 games (see full recap).

Mets starter Johan Santana pitched past the seventh inning for the first time since he threw his first career no-hitter on June 1 by going eight strong against a depleted Dodger lineup.

The Dodgers threatened in the eighth inning with runners on second and third, but Santana was able to escape without giving up any runs. The Dodgers have been shut out in five of the past six games, as they continue to fall in the NL West standings.

Ike Davis hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Mets a 5-0 lead. New York moved within 2.5 games of the first-place Nationals and are on a four-game winning streak.