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. Air Max 97 Just Do It White . Almost 40 years to the day, the two teams will meet again, this time at BC Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points for the present. Air Max 97 Ultra 17 Silver Bullet . LOUIS -- Julius Randle had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Aaron Harrison finished with 18 points and No. http://www.outletairmax97.com/mens-nike-...ah8144-002.html. - Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis said Wednesday hes "nodded off" during meetings, but he said its something every player does. Air Max 97 Mens Clearance . The right-hander said he threw about 30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee Stadium, his final hurdle before starting Tuesday night at Tampa Bay. Air Max 97/1 For Sale . Poti played in 824 regular NHL games with four teams in his career; the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals.PITTSBURGH -- At first glance, it didnt look like much, centre Maurkice Pouncey taking his spot in the middle of the offensive line and snapping the ball to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. But for Pouncey, more than eight months removed from tearing both the ACL and MCL in his right knee during the Steelers season opener last September, it was a big step. Pouncey joined his teammates Tuesday for the first time after knee surgery cost him all but eight snaps of the 2013 season. "Yeah, it was my first time doing live action," Pouncey said. "I didnt have any restrictions. It was pretty neat to dry-block some guys and finish on some plays, it was pretty awesome. So, it was great. There were no problems at all." The three-time Pro Bowler was expected to anchor a young offensive line last season. It never happened. Minutes into the opener against Tennessee, Steelers guard David DeCastro dived into the back of Pounceys legs, derailing the direction of an entire season. "Ive never been hit like that," Pouncey said, quickly adding that he hoped to leave all the injury talk in the past. "I think it was more mental than anything, getting my confidence back. Theres only so much you can do to be ready, but then you have to go out and do it." Maybe its why Pouncey was even more fired up than usual as he took the field with his teammates. The sight of Pounceys No. 53 jersey in front of him was certainly a welcome one for Roethlisberger. "It was great," Roethlisberger said. "As a friend and a guy who has worked so hard to get back out here, it was fun to see him back in the pads." Second-year running back LeVeon Bell missed the opening three games last season due to a foot injury during training camp, so the opening OTA practice was his first time running behind a Pouncey block. "Maurkice is one of the more athletic centres in this league," Bell said. "He can run a little better, so were going to try to get back to where we started last year, with more of an outside, zone running game.dddddddddddd Its something he can do, and hes also a leader for the front guys. So were looking forward to having him back." Bell and bruising back LeGarrette Blount, acquired as a free agent during the off-season, are counting on Pouncey and an offensive line now under the guidance of former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak. "Weve been building since last year," Pouncey said. "We finished the season pretty well, and a lot of the guys played great. Now, to get a new coach, a Hall of Fame player like that, its awesome. Its going to be great for the group." Roethlisberger believes Pounceys return and the continued improvement of the offensive line could make the Steelers among the most potent offences in the league. Pittsburgh ended 2013 on a 6-2 run while thriving in the no-huddle put together by co-ordinator Todd Haley and Roethlisberger. "Thats a big part of running the no-huddle, because you get those guys working together," Roethlisberger said. "Theyre comfortable. Theyre familiar, and theyve got another off-season of training and continuity and learning from each other. And, so, theyre whats going to drive this team and this offence." NOTES: Inside linebacker Sean Spence, who missed the past two years after sustaining a gruesome left knee injury during the preseason in 2012, said he was thrilled to complete a practice. Spence tried to return at midseason last year, but sustained a hand injury. ... Cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu did not attend the voluntary workout while training elsewhere. ... The Steelers signed two draft picks to four-year deals on Tuesday, offensive lineman Wesley Johnson (fifth round) and linebacker Jordan Zumwalt (sixth round). Zumwalt cannot attend OTAs until his class at UCLA has graduated. ' ' '