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Not the start the Nationals were hoping for; 8-5 Braves in “second-half” opener

If this is a sign of things to come for the Washington Nationals in the second half, it might be a rough ride. Stephen Strasburg got knocked around by the Atlanta Braves (8 H, 6 ER over 4 23 IP) and then got into a heated exchange with rotation-mate Max Scherzer in the home dugout after he was lifted, with the two starters taking it down the tunnel, into the clubhouse, to finish their conversation.

Not exactly return to the rotation for Strasburg, or the start out of the All-Star Break for the Nationals, that everyone was looking for from the back-to-back defending NL East champs, who dropped an 8-5 decision to the Braves in the nation’s capital.