Harper, Heyward homer in Nats' 6-5 win over Braves

Harper homered for Washington, Heyward went deep for Atlanta in addition to playing small ball, and the Nationals knocked off the Braves 6-5 in a spring training game Friday night.

Harper hit his first homer of the spring in the top of the first inning. He finished 1 for 3, leaving his exhibition average at .538 (7 of 13).

"Harp came to camp swinging the bat good," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said.

Heyward hit his third spring homer in the bottom half of the first. But he was more proud of getting down a bunt in the fifth, setting up B.J. Upton's two-run double.

"If I'm going to hit in the two-hole, I'm going to see some different things," Heyward said. "I'd like to execute them more times than not."

Zimmermann surrendered five hits and two runs in three innings. But he struck out four and got some odd swings out of the Braves when he went to the changeup, a new pitch in his repertoire.

"He threw some really good changeups to lefties and righties," Johnson said. "Adding this pitch makes him that much tougher."

Julio Teheran also looked tough, striking out five in three innings to strengthen his bid for the fifth spot in the Atlanta rotation. In his two spring starts, he's allowed only one hit and one run — Harper's homer — in five innings. He has seven strikeouts and only one walk.

The 22-year-old right-hander has already impressed one of his new teammates.

"He's got good control," Upton said. "He can pretty much threw the ball where he wants to. He commands his pitches. With what he showed me today, he's going to have a good year. I'm sure he's going to be a big part of our team."