WASHINGTON -- Order another round for Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who has learned that a winning streak can be tough to swallow. The Braves won their 13th straight Wednesday night, summarily dismissing the Washington Nationals 6-3 to complete a three-game sweep and take a staggering-for-early-August 15 1/2-game lead in the NL East. Now Gonzalez will have to keep drinking up. It turns out that the streak happened to begin on the day that bullpen coach Eddie Perez first gave the manager some sort of protein drink. Gonzalez hates the taste, but he cant stop drinking it with his team on such a roll; sure enough, he was sipping the concoction from a cup in the dugout a couple of hours before Wednesdays game. "They may be giving me poop. I dont even know what it is," Gonzalez said. "But Ive been drinking them for 13 days in a row now. Were superstitious, you know." Maybe there are some four-leafs clovers stashed in the clubhouse as well, the way the Braves have been playing. While they have a ways to go before they can mathematically clinch, this week has served as a psychological clincher that only could be undone by a monumental collapse. "We came in here and we let em know," first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "Were here to stay." Jason Heyward singled and Justin Upton doubled in a three-run eighth inning, Upton also homered, and Braves starter Kris Medlen (9-10) allowed three runs and three hits over seven innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 36th save, working out of a bases loaded jam by getting Wilson Ramos to line out to right to end the game. The eighth-inning runs came with two outs off relievers Ryan Mattheus (0-1) and Ian Krol as the Nationals lost their fourth straight and sixth of their last eight. The defending division champs scored only six runs in the three games and are losing hope for an alternate path to the post-season as well, falling nine games off the wild card pace. "Lot of ground to make up, but you never know what can happen in this game," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "If nothing else, get our pride back by playing better." The game was played nicely by both sides one night after a fastball to Bryce Harpers thigh cleared both benches and led to a public spat between the clubs official Twitter feeds. Braves general manager Frank Wren said before the game that a tweet directed at Harper was "an inappropriate attempt at humour." When asked about any possible retaliation, Johnson said it would be "just baseball as usual" before flashing a smile. As it turned out, the only confrontation involving Harper was between the young slugger and his own manager, when the two bickered in the dugout over whether Harper should come out of the game because of a nagging knee injury. "Yeah, he was checking on my leg and asking how I felt," Harper said. "I just told him I felt fine and I dont want him to take me out." While the game passed without incident between the two teams -- no one was hit by a pitch -- the saga might not be over. The teams play six more times this season, including a three-game series next week in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Gonzalez has to stomach another protein shake. The good news: The Braves have Thursday off before opening a homestand. "At least," Gonzalez said, "I get tomorrow off with the shakes." Notes: Andrelton Simmons started the rally in the eighth with a two-out double off Mattheus. After a walk to a pinch hitter, Heyward singled in a run off Krol. Upton followed with a two-run double to the left-field corner. ... Braves CF B.J. Upton has his first four-hit game of the season to raise his average to a season-high .198. ... Nationals RHP Tanner Roark made his major league debut with two scoreless innings. He also made a superb defensive play, diving to catch Medlens sacrifice bunt attempt and throwing to first for a double play. ... Heyward returned to the lineup after leaving Tuesdays game with a strained neck muscle. "I felt a lot better when I woke up," he said. "Didnt have any head weirdness or headache or anything like that." Cheap Custom Giants Jersey . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Custom Mel Ott Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. http://www.customsfgiantsjersey.com/ . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Mel Ott Jersey Large .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Custom Giants Jerseys . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. SANTA CLARA, Calif. --?San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly isnt much for hypotheticals, so he wouldnt commit to quarterback Colin Kaepernick returning to the mix Friday night against Green Bay.But Kelly did offer at least a small update Wednesday on Kaepernicks progress in his return from a sore shoulder, saying the quarterback has been full-go in practice, back to splitting the reps with Blaine Gabbert in practice all week and is headed toward his preseason debut barring a setback.Hes on track and were excited and were hopeful he will be ready to go, Kelly said. But Im not going to put the cart before the horse. We have a system. When we get to Friday, well know exactly from [head athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson] whos up and whos down.He wouldnt say whether Kaepernick would start or even whether he would get reps with the first-team offense.Kelly went on to say that if Kaepernick is active on Friday night, he will play in the teams third game.For his part, it was clear Wednesday afternoon that Kaepernick is not only expecting to play but also feeling much better after three practices this week.Its great to be back out there, Kaepernick said. Its great to be back practicing with my teammates and getting ready for this next game. Everything has been going great, everything has been going as planned. Im excited to get out there this Friday.Before Kaepernick began dealling with the sore shoulder, Kelly had said that the two quarterbacks would both get time with the first-team offense in preseason games.ddddddddddddKelly wouldnt commit to that plan Wednesday, but since they are splitting reps in practice, its possible theyd follow a similar plan in the game.In his first week back to full practice since Aug. 10, Kaepernick has not been on a pitch count, according to Kelly. In terms of rust, Kelly acknowledged there has been some, but otherwise Kaepernick has been on top of things.Hes been sharp with all the things mentally, Kelly said. When you take some time off from the physical, there may be a ball that was behind from a timing standpoint, but theres no indecision where he doesnt know where hes going.Gabbert has started both preseason games to this point, going 10-of-19 for 132 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. And while Gabbert has taken most of the repetitions with the first team throughout camp, Kaepernick still believes hes firmly in the mix to win the starting job.Yeah, most definitely, Kaepernick said. Im going to go out and show everything I can these next two games and make sure I put my best foot forward to show this organization, this team, this coaching staff what Im capable of. ' ' '