Braves v. Nationals. Two teams fighting for a chance to take the NL East title. Washington took the crown last year, but the Braves are determined to not let them repeat their success.

The Braves came into the game as the hottest team in baseball, holding an 8-1 record and in the midst of a seven game win streak. The Nationals have by many been called to win the division, but in this game, they were the ones with something to prove.

Heyward finally pulled himself off of an 0-21 streak by getting a first inning single to center field. Though they got a runner on quick with one out, a fly out to Justin Upton and ground out to Evan Gattis put a quick end to an early hit.

The Nats struck quick in the first inning. Denard Span reached base on a throwing error by Chris Johnson. Then two batters later came the young phenom Bryce Harper, who ripped a high fastball opposite field over the left field wall. Teheran faced a little more trouble in the second inning by letting up a pair of singles to Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond, but after a Danny Espinosa fly out, the Braves made it out of the inning having let up just two runs.

Denard Span and Jayson Werth each plated an RBI in the second inning, adding on to an early lead and putting pressure on the young Julio Teheran. Teheran's struggles were short lived, though, needing only five pitches to silence the Nations in order in the bottom of the third. From the third inning through the sevenths Teheran allowed only two runners to reach base in the form of a pair of walks in the 5^th inning, but allowed no more runs to score.

The 6^th inning looked promising for the Braves. Still down 4-0, Justin Upton blasted a shot to left center field. The hit was ruled a double, but shortly after the hit went under replay. The umpires watched the video for a much longer time than usual. After an agonizing wait, the umpires came out to ultimately call the hit a double, short of a home run by a matter of inches. This gave the Braves a runner in scoring position with no outs for Evan Gattis, who in the end struck out swinging.

After a longball by Chris Johnson in the 7^th inning, he 8^th inning looked like it was time to turn the game around. After a bases loaded walk to B.J. Upton, all eyes were on Dan Uggla. Uggla has the most RBIs of any visiting player in Nationals park at 32. With the bases loaded and two outs, he came just a few feet shy of turning that into 36, with a deep fly all the way to the warning track to center field.

In the 9^th inning, down 4-2, the Braves were ready to come back with a big rally. Ryan Zimmerman made a costly throwing error on a Justin Upton RBI single, tying the game. Eric O'Flaherty made quick work in the bottom of the 9^th, sending the game into extra innings.

10^th inning, one runner on, and Ramiro Pena at the plate. Pena is a new addition to the Braves, not known as a power hitter. He surprised everyone when he blasted a moonshot to the back of the Nationals bullpen in right field.

This opened the door for the Braves late inning weapon, Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel notched the save in a three up, three down bottom of the 10^th, recording his 5^th save in five attempts, staying just as consistent as he had previous seasons(Though this game he only recorded one strikeout, must have been an off day).

The dramatic game ended in a 6-4 score, giving the Braves the first game of the series and a two game lead in the National League East. Even if the Braves lose the remaining two games, they cannot walk out less than tied for first. Though it is early in the season, the Braves are showing fight, power and dominance. This sure will be a wild season.