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Joe Ross loses to Braves but looks sharp in first game back for Nationals

ATLANTA — Nationals manager Dusty Baker liked what he saw in three innings from starter Joe Ross.

“We were contemplating taking him another inning but said, ‘That’s enough this first time out,’ ” Baker said. “It’s a welcomed sight to see him back.”

Ross returned from a 66-game absence with right shoulder inflammation to give Washington’s rotation a boost in a rain-shorted 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

The game was official with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Two delays totaled 2 hours, 57 minutes.

Washington has dropped two straight and needs any combination of six Nationals wins and six New York Mets losses to earn its third NL East title in five years.