Heyward To Start Season In Right; Braves Celebrate By Beating Tigers and Nationals

Okay, maybe they didn't celebrate by beating the Nationals this afternoon, but it was still a great performance by the pitching.

BRAVES 5, TIGERS 3

W - Derek Lowe (2-0)
L - Justin Verlander (1-3)
S - Billy Wagner (1)

BRAVES 4, NATIONALS 0

W - Jair Jurrjens (2-0)
L - Jason Marquis (1-2)

THE GOOD: McCann had four hits in the two games and scored two runs. Nate McLouth had two hits against the Tigers, driving in two runs. Omar Infante had three hits, including a double, run and RBI. Matt Diaz had two hits against the Tigers. Derek Lowe pitched six good innings, allowing just one unearned run. Jair Jurrjens followed that with five innings of one-hit ball in the next game. Takashi Saito didn't allow a run in back-to-back days.

THE BAD: Melky Cabrera went 0-8 in the leadoff spot, but drove in a run. Chipper Jones went 0-5 with a walk. Jason Heyward went 0-4 against the Nationals (gasp!). Billy Wagner allowed a run against the Tigers for the only score rung up on the Braves pen in the two games.

UP NEXT: The Braves travel to Lake Vera, Florida to play the Nationals again. Tommy Hanson will start for Atlanta and Scott Proctor is scheduled to pitch.