Harper, Nats battle back

WASHINGTON - On the verge of a major stumble, Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals proved resilient.

After Friday's demoralizing 11-inning defeat, the Nationals promptly lost the opener of Saturday's doubleheader and their prized rookie to an injured ankle. Without Harper in the starting lineup for the nightcap, Washington fell behind by two runs in the first inning.

But the 19-year-old returned to single and score as a pinch hitter, Roger Bernadina had a tiebreaking hit in the seventh inning and Washington earned a split of the day-night doubleheader with a 5-2 victory over Atlanta. The Braves won the first game 4-0 behind Ben Sheets' strong performance.

Instead of another loss and barely maintaining its division lead, John Lannan helped Washington snap a three-game losing streak and move ahead of Atlanta in the National League East by 2½ games.

"I think most of the guys in this locker room felt like it was a must win tonight," said closer Tyler Clippard, who pitched the ninth inning for his 16th save. "If they took three from us right away, it would have been a pretty big blow. To get this win tonight, John stepped up in a huge way for us, pitched great and our offense came through when we needed, too. It was a huge win."

In between games, Nationals manager Davey Johnson said the MRI on Harper showed no break, though he kept his outfielder out of the starting lineup for Game 2.

Harper entered in the eighth and singled, stole second and scored on Danny Espinosa's single to right. The first-time All-Star stayed in as the right fielder in the ninth.

"It feels all right," Harper said. "Once I get going, that's when it feels good. When I sit down, that's when it feels bad."

Bernadina, who entered as a defensive replacement after Harper fouled a bunt off his left ankle in the first inning of the first game, finished 5 of 7 on the day, including a go-ahead RBI single in the night game.

Lannan (1-0) pitched seven innings for the win.

Cristhian Martinez (4-2) allowed three runs - two earned - in 1 2/3 innings of relief behind starter Randall Delgado.

In the opener, Sheets (2-0) pitched six shutout innings. Outdueling Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (5-6), Sheets extended his scoreless innings streak to 12 in his return after missing last season because of Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.