Braves slumping toward finish line, swept in doubleheader

WASHINGTON -- Tanner Roark threw seven shutout innings, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 to sweep a day-night doubleheader Tuesday, ensuring the Braves leave Washington without the NL East title.

Roark (7-0) allowed just two hits, struck out six and retired the final 13 batters he faced.

Ryan Zimmerman hit a home run, Ian Desmond hit an RBI double and Adam LaRoche a run-scoring single in the eighth inning. Steve Lomardozzi had a second-inning RBI single off Freddy Garcia (1-2).

Washington entered the nightcap, which followed the Nationals' 6-5 win in the makeup of a series opener postponed by a shooting rampage a day earlier at the nearby Navy Yard, within 4 1/2 games of Cincinnati for the NL's second wild-card berth. The Nationals, who have won 10 of 11, have 11 games remaining.

The Braves have lost nine of 13, but they still lead the division by eight games.

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