Pirate Galaxy » P Pedro Beato on the DL with a sore right elbow. He was ca

WASHINGTON -- Gavin Floyd had never heard the name of the piece of bone he broke inside his elbow. Manager Fredi Gonzalez didnt even try to pronounce it. But no matter how you say "olecranon," it spells more bad news for the Atlanta Braves pitching staff. Floyd, recently recovered from elbow ligament replacement surgery, fractured the bony tip of the forearm bone that sticks out behind the elbow when he threw a curveball to lead off the seventh inning of Thursday nights 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals. "It was fine until that last pitch," Floyd said. "I felt a pop." Its the latest setback for an injury-riddled staff that lost starters Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy and reliever Cory Gearrin to Tommy John surgery during spring training, upending a major plank in the Braves plans to repeat as NL East champions. "Its been a tough one, ever since spring training," third baseman Chris Johnson said. "But weve got to keep moving forward. Hopefully its nothing too bad and we can get him back soon." Floyd will return to Atlanta on Friday to be examined by team doctors. The injury is so rare that the Braves couldnt provide even a guess of a timetable for his return. A similar injury ended the career of Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya in 2010. "In the big picture, I think hes going to be OK," Gonzalez said. Floyd flexed his pitching arm awkwardly after the fateful pitch, which turned into a long foul ball by Jayson Werth down the left field line. After an examination by the Braves trainer on the mound, Floyd left the game for reliever Anthony Varvaro. "It was a weird spot," Floyd said. "It was a little sore before, but not in the area that I had surgery." Floyd (2-2) was making his ninth start since recovering from Tommy John surgery, but Gonzalez said the two injuries are not related. "What a shame," Gonzalez said. "The guy comes all the way back from Tommy John. ... I feel for the young man." Floyd had been working on a two-hit shutout. He threw only 64 pitches, walking one and striking out six to drop his ERA to 2.65 in his first season with Atlanta. "Thats the best Ive seen him look," Johnson said. "For those first six innings, he was dealing, he was nasty, so thats really a tough break." Floyds career record is 72-72 over 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox and Braves. "I felt like I was getting better and better, so its definitely disappointing," Floyd said. "Definitely not what I envisioned to happen. I havent had any pain since the surgery." The win moved the Braves within a half-game of the first-place Nationals atop the NL East as the division rivals opened a four-game series. Atlanta had been trending downward recently, losing eight of 12 entering the series. Johnson drove in all three of the Braves runs, two on a bases-loaded single in the fourth and another on a line drive that smacked reliever Jerry Blevins left knee in the eighth. Blevins was examined by the Nationals trainer but remained in the game to face one more batter. Jordan Zimmermann (5-4), coming off consecutive complete games, had his second straight hard-luck start for the Nationals. He lost 1-0 to Lance Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals last Friday, and this time he allowed only two runs and seven hits through seven innings. Zimmermann has also had Tommy John surgery and naturally empathized with Floyd. "You never want another pitcher to get injured. I dont know what really happened," Zimmermann said. "Obviously, it was bad enough for him to come out of the game. Hopefully, hell be all right." NOTES: Evan Gattis extended his hitting streak to 18 games -- the longest active streak in the majors and best ever by a Braves catcher. ... Craig Kimbrel picked up his 21st save for the Braves, who have won 23 of 30 against the Nationals. ... Nationals OF Bryce Harper took on-field batting practice before the game for the first time since undergoing thumb surgery last month. Hes expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week before re-joining the team in mid-July. . Nationals Manager Matt Williams said C Wilson Ramos (strained right hamstring) should be ready to re-join the team when eligible to come off of the DL June 26. Ramos will begin a rehab assignment over the weekend or the beginning of next week. . Braves OF Justin Upton was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game with an inner ear ailment causing dizziness, but he appeared as pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and grounded out. . The Braves placed RHP Pedro Beato on the DL with a sore right elbow. He was called up to the Braves earlier this week and pitched in relief both Tuesday and Wednesday. The Braves promoted RHP Juan Jaime from Triple-A Gwinnett, his first call-up to the majors. Marius Wolf Dortmund Jersey . -- New York Yankees centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was sent for an MRI Thursday of his ailing right calf, which was negative. Borussia Dortmund Jerseys . - Skiing far more aggressively than in her season debut a day earlier, Lindsey Vonn was in provisional 10th place after the first 45 skiers in a World Cup downhill on Saturday. http://www.footballdortmundpro.com/Kids-...Jersey/.Stanton suffered fractures in his face and other injuries when he was hit by a pitch Sept. 11. The Marlins are confident hell fully recover and be ready for spring training, and they hope to reach a long-term agreement with him. Marcel Schmelzer Jersey . -- Center Max Unger and tight end Zach Miller are both probable for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday against the New York Giants and Percy Harvins recovery continues to be slow. Julian Weigl Dortmund Jersey . Reimer is winless (0-2-1) since returning from a six-week absence due to concussion-like symptoms. The Maple Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to the hosting Washington Capitals on Friday.MILWAUKEE -- Closer Jenrry Mejia extended his arms in front of him and kneeled quickly as he let out a yell with the final out secured in first baseman Lucas Dudas glove. A 2-0 victory Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers allowed the New York Mets to head home after the All-Star break, happy with a 5-5 record on its grueling 10-game road trip. Duda hit a two-run homer and rookie Jacob deGrom pitched well into the seventh to allow the Mets to split a four-game series with the NL Central-leading Brewers. "Its huge for us," manager Terry Collins said about going .500 on the swing that also took the Mets to San Diego and Seattle. "When you start the second half with a 10-day road trip and you play two teams that are fighting for the playoffs, its a big test and our guys rose and played very well." With the non-waiver trade deadline looming Thursday, the Mets are five games under .500 overall at 50-55 and 6 1/2 games back in the wild card race. Duda sent an 0-2 slider in the sixth from rookie Jimmy Nelson (1-2) into the second deck above right field to break a scoreless pitchers duel. It was Dudas third homer in four days in Milwaukee. Overall, Duda finished with four homers and seven RBIs on the road. "Hes had a tremendous road trip," Collins said. "Lets hope he remains hot." The Brewers mounted a ninth-inning rally against Mejia with two outs after Jean Seguras single put runners on first and second. Mejia got Lyle Overbay to ground out for his 15th save. DeGrom (5-5) held the Brewers to four hits and two walks, exiting with one out in the seventh after allowing two singles. Reliever Vic Black got out of that jam. DeGrom had location and life on a fastball that peaked in the mid-90s, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We didnt square up many balls today," said the skipper. The closest thing to a rally came in the ninth after Khris Davis reached first on an infield single with one out. The play stood following a replay review. Mejia got Mark Reynolds to strike out before Segura siingled to put the tying run on base.dddddddddddd After Overbay grounded out, Mejia savored the save with his animated celebration. The rookie starters matched scoreless innings early. Nelson allowed four doubles and got into a little trouble in missing high with his sinker, but finished with six strikeouts in seven innings. He was also helped by three double plays. But that one slider he left up to Duda proved to be the difference. At least Nelson got to smile after singling up the middle in the third for his first career hit in 66 at-bats as a professional, dating back to the minor leagues. "I think my thumbs are still in the batters box," Nelson said. "Its been a while since I got one of those, about 10 years." DeGrom won his fourth straight start, each time getting into the seventh. The most worrisome pitch for the righty came when Reynolds hit a towering fly ball to left that appeared to hit the heavy wires that support Miller Parks retractable roof. The ball caromed back into fair territory, and Davis, at first, was racing around third when he was held up after the umpires ruled the play foul. DeGrom then struck out Reynolds looking. The right-hander with curly brown hair flowing out from under his blue cap had hitters swinging through fastballs that peaked in the mid-90s. He finished with four strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.81. "Hes been very good. I guess he has to go out each time and prove it," Collins said. "He was very good today." NOTES: The Mets improved to 22-13 in day games. ... 3B Aramis Ramirez, who was 2 for 24 on the seven-game homestand, had a day off before popping out in the seventh as a pinch hitter. ... Manager Ron Roenicke indicated 2B Scooter Gennett could return to action full time when the Brewers open a three-game series Monday in Tampa ... Bartolo Colon (9-8) starts when the Mets return to the Citi Field for the first time since the All-Star break to play the Phillies on Monday. ... Kyle Lohse (11-4) opens the three-game series against the Rays for Milwaukee. ' ' '