Braves score four in the 8th to beat Nationals 8-4

Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond (20) is safe at second base on a steal as Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons bobbles the throw, in the fourth inning of Tuesday's spring training game in Kissimmee, Fla. - photo by Alex Brandon

0305Braves1 — Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond (20) is safe at second base on a steal as Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons bobbles the throw, in the fourth inning of Tuesday's spring training game in Kissimmee, Fla. - photo by Alex Brandon

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Stephen Strasburg pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut for Washington, but Phil Gosselin took advantage of Nationals rookie manager Matt Williams' unusual defensive shift in the eighth inning to give the Atlanta Braves an 8-4 victory Tuesday. Gosselin hit a bases-loaded triple to a vacated right field after Williams had ordered a five-man infield with one out and a tie game. The Braves added a fourth run in the inning and won for the first time in eight games this spring.

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