Instant analysis: Braves 2, Nats 1 (10)

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Gio Gonzalez was dominant over seven innings of 1-run ball.

Game in a nutshell: With Gio Gonzalez and Tim Hudson on the mound, you knew there was a good chance of this turning into a pitchers' duel. The two hurlers didn't disappoint, each allowing only one run on three hits over at least seven innings. The Braves pushed across their run early on a walk, single and RBI groundout. The Nationals countered with an unearned run off Hudson, with Steve Lombardozzi hustling from first to third on Ryan Zimmerman's groundout and then scoring on Ian Desmond's two-out single to center. But it was all pitching after that, with each bullpen ultimately taking over and trying to keep the other club from scoring the go-ahead run. The Nationals had a great chance against Craig Kimbrel in the top of the ninth but squandered it. Fernando Abad came up big in the bottom of the ninth, sending this one to extra innings. But with the Nationals unable to push across a run, Henry Rodriguez surrendered the game-winner in the bottom of the 10th. Rodriguez issued two walks, let Jordan Schafer steal second without drawing a throw and then surrendered the game-winning single to the .145-hitting B.J. Upton. Thus the Nationals fell back to the .500 mark and 5 1/2 games behind Atlanta heading into Sunday's series finale.

Hitting lowlight: It's not often you get a golden opportunity against Kimbrel, so you've got to make the most of it. The Nationals couldn't in the top of the ninth of a 1-1 game. Despite a leadoff single from Zimmerman and a subsequent double from Adam LaRoche, the Nats couldn't push across the go-ahead run. Desmond struck out looking at a 2-2 fastball, perhaps the biggest infraction of the inning. Roger Bernadina then grounded into a 5-2 fielder's choice, leacing it all up to the struggling Danny Espinosa. Espinosa swung at Kimbrel's first pitch and flied out to left, killing the rally.

Pitching highlight: Against a tough veteran with such a track record of dominance against the Nationals, Gonzalez had to be on top of his game tonight. And he was. Not only did the left-hander get good results — one run on three hits over seven innings — but he was all over the strike zone. He issued only one walk and, most impressively, threw 72 of his 105 pitches for strikes. That's an extraordinary strike percentage for Gonzalez, and a great sign for him. He even helped himself out at the plate, roping the night's first hit by either team. That single left Gio sporting a .294 batting average for the season. Stunning.

Key stat: Since returning from a five-day break to let his fractured wrist heal, Danny Espinosa is 2-for-15 with six strikeouts.

Up next: The series wraps up at 1:35 p.m. Sunday when Nate Karns takes the mound for his second career start (hoping to go at least five innings this time and qualify for the win) against left-hander Paul Maholm.