WASHINGTON -- National League victories leader Stephen Strasburg struggled again at home as the Washington Nationals lost to the Atlanta Braves 8-5 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.Strasburg allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings, giving up home runs to Jace Peterson and Freddie Freeman on a humid night at Nationals Park. Strasburg has a 9.00 ERA over 16 innings in his last three outings (all losses) at home.This happens no matter who you are, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. These things happen. He is not infallible. Hes human and sometimes you hit a bad period of time like this.Anthony Recker also homered for the Braves, who snapped a 14-game losing streak in Washington and won for the 11th time in 17 games.Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings, while Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in 13 tries.Atlanta had not won in Washington since Sept. 10, 2014, and was 0-6 against the NL East leaders this season.The Braves scored in the first and second innings before the Nationals rallied for three runs. But after Foltynewicz doubled to lead off the fifth and Erick Aybar singled with one out, Freeman smacked his 22nd home run.Hes a really good hitter so its kind of been a back and forth for years now and I just got to do a better job of hitting my spots with him, Strasburg said. Didnt do that tonight and he beat me on it.Strasburg left trailing 5-3 with a man on base in the sixth, and Recker hit reliever Matt Belisles first pitch deep to left for his first homer this season. Washington would not get any closer than three runs.Anthony Rendon hit his 14th homer for the Nationals, who remained 7 1/2 games ahead of Miami in the NL East.WERTH EXTENDS ON-BASE STREAKNationals LF Jayson Werths RBI double in the seventh inning extended his streak of reaching base safely to 41 games. It is the longest streak in the majors and two shy of Ryan Zimmermans Nationals record set in 2009.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: Atlanta selected the contract of RHP Jason Hursh from Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled RHP Akeel Morris from Double-A Mississippi, optioned RHP Brandon Cunniff to Gwinnett and designated RHP Roberto Hernandez for assignment.Nationals: OF Bryce Harper, who has not played since Saturday, remained out of the lineup with a stiff neck. Baker said the team might have to make a decision about placing Harper on the DL in the next few days, but has not discussed the possibility based on his progress. Brian Goodwin started in right in Harpers place.UP NEXTBraves: Rookie RHP Rob Whalen (1-0, 5.73 ERA) makes his third career start and first against Washington.Nationals: The club plans to recall RHP Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 9.35) to start Saturday. Lopez did not last more than 4 2/3 innings in either of his first two career starts. Cheap Stan Smith Canada . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Stan Smith Canada From China . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.stansmithoutletcanada.com/ . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Stan Smith Canada Online . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Wholesale Adidas Shoes Canada . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Saturday, kick-off 14:30TwickenhamEddie Jones England look set to end a 10-year run without a win against South Africa when an under-performing Springboks side take to the field at Twickenham on Saturday.?As they look to continue their 100 percent record under Jones, there has not been a better time to face the Boks, whose most recent performance saw them struggle to draw against the Barbarians last week.In stark contrast, England bossed Australia in their 3-0 series win in the summer and despite a few injuries, their players come into the November international window on the back of some very good club form.?A disappointing Rugby Championship for?Allister Coetzees side culminated in a 57-15 defeat at home to the All Blacks. It is difficult to find a time where expectation was lower among their fans and there is little to show that they will turn things around against England, and push their unbeaten run against them to 13 games.Team newsCourtney Lawes is set to win his 50th cap in a pack that has seen its back-row options limited with James Haskell, Maro Itoje, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones and Mike Williams all missing out through injury. The raft of injuries has given Tom Wood his first opportunity to start for England since the World Cup.?Wasps Elliot Daly got the nod at centre in place of Jonathan Joseph, while Jones will hope the George Ford/Owen Farrell, 10/12 axis, will continue to blossom. On the bench the prospect of Ben Teo will excite English fans, with the centre bringing physicality and neat footwork to the back-line. If he, Kyle Sinckler or Nathan Hughes make an appearance, it will be their first run-out in an England shirt.Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee opted to leave out Bryan Habana from the matchday squad, although the Toulon winger looked to have shaken off a knee injury. He has gone for brute force in his pack, with Lood de Jager, Willem Alberts and Pieter-Steph du Toit providing both physicality and size. They were all replacements in Octobers defeat to the All Blacks and much is expected from all three to enforce their game on England.Damian de Allende and Pat Lambie are the sole survivors from the team that started the defeeat to New Zealand in the back-line, but Lambie switches from fullback to fly-half for Saturdays clash.ddddddddddddEngland: Brown, Yarde, Daly, Farrell, May, Ford, Youngs; M. Vunipola, Hartley (captain), Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Robshaw, Wood, B. VunipolaReplacements:?George, Marler, Sinckler, Attwood, Hughes, Care, Teo, JosephSouth Africa:?Le Roux, Combrinck, Venter, de Allende, Pietersen, Lambie, Paige; Mtawarira, Strauss, Koch, Etzebeth, de Jager, Alberts, du Toit, WhiteleyReplacements:?Mbonambi, Kitshoff, Adriaanse, Mostert, Carr, de Klerk, Goosen, Mapoe.Key head-to-headWhat difference can three players make? That is the big question as South Africa look to avoid a similar thumping to that which was inflicted upon them a month ago. Their pack is not the once feared and all-dominating pack of old. In contrast England come into the game having destroyed Australia up front in the summer and in Mako Vunipola have arguably the best prop in world rugby. He has been in terrifying form for Saracens and if he and brother Billy can have the same influence on Saturday, that they have had at club level, it will decide the outcome. ?Key stats*Englands only decent result against South Africa in 10 years came in the 2012 12-12 draw in South Africa.*Eddie Jones has a 100 percent record since taking charge of England, who are on a 10-game winning streak.*England have won just 12 of the 37 games between the sides, with two draws.WeatherBoth sets of fans will hope the rain forecast will avoid Twickenham for a few hours on Saturday. If it doesnt it could be a very attritional and punishing game for both forward packs.?PredictionEngland will put an end to their abysmal record against the Boks. Eddie Jones side showed in the summer that even when series victory is ensured, there is no let up in their intent. That could spell disaster for South Africa who are still no clearer in knowing which way they should play under?Allister Coetzee. A rack of tries from the explosive England back-line should serve up a comfortable victory by 15 points.? ' ' '