ATLANTA -- Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar, the hottest hitter on a stone-cold Washington team, was apparently injured on a play at third Monday night against the Braves and had to leave the game.
Escobar, who was riding an eight-game hitting streak and an on-base streak of 16 games, was hurt when Atlanta's Andrelton Simmons slid hard into third in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Simmons, who started the play at first base, raced around from first when pitcher Doug Fister's pickoff attempt went awry. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman chased down the throw and fired across the diamond to cut down Simmons, and the throw seemed to beat the runner.