WASHINGTON -- Atlanta pitcher Julio Teheran insisted he didnt mean to plunk Washingtons Bryce Harper with a pitch two innings after the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year homered. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said after his clubs 2-1 victory over the Nationals on Tuesday night that "it definitely wasnt on purpose." Harper -- and everyone else connected to the Nationals -- was sure it was. "Its part of the game and its something, I guess, hes got to do," Harper said, his hands on his hips. Then, asked whether he was surprised Teheran hit him, Harper offered this nugget: "Uh, I hit that ball pretty far off him. So no, not really." And Washington manager Davey Johnson observed: "You file it for future reference." All in all, the sort of stuff rivalries and high-drama playoff chases are made of. Except, in this particular case, Evan Gattis two-run single in the fifth, and the six innings thrown by Teheran (9-5) while allowing one run, combined to produce Atlantas season-high 12th consecutive win, padding their NL East lead to 14 1/2 games over Washington. It was the latest weak hitting performance by a Nationals club thats had trouble at the plate since April and is now five games under .500 a year after leading the majors with 98 wins. "Theres no point in looking back and hanging our head. Weve got two options now: We can cash it in and think about next year or we can grind it out and see what happens," said Adam LaRoche, who grounded out on a 2-0 pitch with the bases loaded against reliever Luis Avilan to end the seventh. "Im pretty sure were going to keep pushing." Gattis big hit came off Gio Gonzalez (7-5), who pitched one night after Major League Baseball announced its Biogenesis investigation cleared the left-hander. Adding to the theatrics: Gattis was only in the game because he replaced Jason Heyward, who left with a neck muscle strain after popping out in the first inning. "Adrenaline kind of takes over," Gattis said about getting thrown into the lineup. "Theres kind of not much time to think about it." Harper put Washington ahead 1-0 with one out in the third, driving the first pitch of the at-bat onto the grassy hill in straightaway centre for his 17th homer. Harper paused a bit as he left the batters box, watching the ball fly, then dropped his bat and took a slower-than-usual-for-him trot around the bases. "Yeah, he sat there for a little bit, but it is what it is," Braves catcher Brian McCann said. Asked about Teherans intent during Harpers next turn up, in the fifth, McCann answered: "Im not sure. I dont have the ball." When Harper went to the plate with Washington trailing 2-1, Teherans first pitch hit him on the right leg. Harper barked at Teheran and pointed at the right-hander. McCann moved toward Harper, before an umpire got in the way. "Obviously Bryce didnt like it, (and) we dont blame him," LaRoche said. Members of both teams streamed onto the field, but they stayed separated and no punches were thrown. Even Heyward came out onto the grass, with a blue shirt on but not his jersey. "Boys being boys," Fredi Gonzalez called it. Not long after, the clubs official Twitter feeds mixed it up a bit. The Braves tweeted: "Clown move bro," tweaking Harpers famous retort to a reporter last season, "Thats a clown question, bro." The Nationals then replied on Twitter: "Which part, giving up the home run, or drilling the 20-year-old on the first pitch his next time up?" Teheran wound up allowing four hits and the lone run. He gave way to Avilan, who got out of that jam in the seventh. Jordan Walden struck out the side in the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel did the same in the ninth, collecting his 35th save by whiffing Harper swinging at a high, 99 mph fastball. Asked afterward whether he thought about charging the mound when he got hit, Harper said: "Nah, I wasnt going to go out there. I mean, 14 1/2 games down, and I need to be in the lineup." Notes: The Braves listed Heyward as day to day. After the game, he said a doctor told him it was a spasm. ... Former major league closer Billy Wagner, who spent the final season of his 16-year career with the Braves, was in the visitors clubhouse before the game. Wagner, now a high school baseball coach, recently wrote an autobiography called "A Way Out." "Its not meant to be a bestseller," Wagner said. "Its meant to help that kid that is in Southwest Virginia, who somebody said, Youre not going to be anything, and youre never going to accomplish anything. Its meant for those people, so that they can read it and go, Well, this kid was in the same situation. You might not go on to be a major leaguer, but theres a way out." Richard Bell Jersey Store . 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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Christian Pulisics phone has been more active than usual the past few days.Among texts, calls and social media, Pulisic got his share of congratulatory messages after scoring two goals and assisting on another in the United States 6-0 victory at St. Vincent and the Grenadines in a World Cup qualifier last week.Even though some would question whether it was possible, Pulisics performance raised expectations and hype surrounding the 17-year-old midfielder who some think could be Americas next soccer star.For now, though, Pulisic is likely to remain the U.S. squads super sub.Coach Jurgen Klinsmann made it clear Monday he intends to bring the talented teenager along slowly and is not likely to start him Tuesday against Trinidad and Tobago, the Americans finale in the semifinal round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.Its important to kind of give younger players time and have that patience, Klinsmann said Monday. And when moments are there to give them the minutes or the start, its not an issue. We just need to make sure it all kind of comes at the right time. We are all excited about a very special talent when it comes through there. He has a long, long ways to go, and hopefully he goes a long way for many, many years to come.Although the Americans (3-1-1) havent secured a spot in CONCACAFs hexagonal, a victory against the Soca Warriors (3-0-2) would clinch first place in Group C and set up a final-round opener at home against Mexico in November. Because the U.S. has a plus-13 goal difference, it could advance even with a loss because third-place Guatemala (2-2-1) is at plus-1.We badly want to win this game, Klinsmann said. We want to finish first in our group in order to get straight into a big one in the hexagonal.Tim Howard, who took a yearlong leave of absence from the national team following the 2014 World Cup, will return to goal against T&T. It will be Howards 32nd appearance in a World Cup qualifier, moving him past mentor and former teammate Kasey Keller as the teams career leader in that category.Midfield Michael Brradley and defender Michael Orozco return after one-game suspensions.dddddddddddd Right back DeAndre Yedlin is suspended after getting his second yellow card of qualifying against St. Vincent.Forward Clint Dempsey remains sidelined while undergoing tests for an irregular heartbeat, leaving Bobby Wood to start alongside Jozy Altidore.Pulisic likely will be one of the first players off the bench, a role he welcomes for now.Im ready for whatever comes, he said. Its fine to be patient. I know that I have to develop because Im a young player, so Im just excited for how that happens. Its been a crazy year for me going from a lot of youth teams and programs straight to the professionals and top teams. But its been really exciting and Im really happy with how its gone so far. Well see how it pans out.Pulisic plays for Borussia Dortmund in Germanys Bundesliga, and there was talk of a possible move to Liverpool. Following Dortmunds summer additions, Pulisic figures to have even more competition for playing time.We make sure he grows with the more experienced older players, and its wonderful to see that, Klinsmann said. Obviously, there will be setbacks throughout his career, but right now its going very smooth for him. We hope when he gets back to Dortmund that he gets his minutes there as well, which is not easy. They are fully loaded now in their roster.So well bring him along, and when I have the feeling that I need to hold him back a little bit, I will hold him back. When I have the feeling to give him a go, well give him a go.Pulisic earned his first start for Dortmund in January and then earned his first cap for the U.S. national team a month later. He scored his first professional goal in the Bundesliga in April and then became the U.S. teams youngest goal-scorer in the modern era in May.Hes a talented kid, for sure, Bradley said. What you all see is what we see up close on a daily basis. Hes a good kid. Hes smart. He knows whats going on. ' ' '