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. China Jerseys Stitched . 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Cheap Jerseys From China .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action.Blackpools Winter Gardens is the iconic venue for one of darts three majors and four of the sports biggest names will all be bidding for the World Matchplay title. Phil Taylor has reigned supreme winning an incredible 15 titles, and remarkably claiming every final he has ever reached on the Lancashire coast.James Wade has reached six finals and won once, Adrian Lewis is yet to win while MVG has reached two finals winning his first title last year. Gary Anderson, winner of the World Championship heads to the seaside seeking a first matchplay title that would complete a memorable triple crown. So who has the best chance of victory and who could fall early, we turned to Hawaii 501 for the lowdown...... World Matchplay Draw Top Half Michael van Gerwen (1) v Jamie Cavan Vincent van der Voort (16) v Kyle Anderson Robert Thornton (8) v Josh Payne Dave Chisnall (9) v Benito van de Pas Peter Wright (5) v Joe Cullen Ian White (12) v Daryl Gurney Adrian Lewis (4) v Mark Webster Kim Huybrechts (13) v Gerwyn Price Bottom Half Gary Anderson (2) v Alan Norris Terry Jenkins (15) v Justin Pipe Michael Smith (7) v Simon Whitlock Jelle Klaasen (10) v Steve Beaton James Wade (6) v Mervyn King Raymond van Barneveld (11) v Brendan Dolan Phil Taylor (3) v Robbie Green Stephen Bunting (14) v Mensur Suljovic Tough for Taylor? Phil Taylor will be looking to add to his 15 titles in Blackpool For me, of all the top four, Phil Taylor has the toughest draw.dddddddddddd Hes got Robbie Green, which he will be happy with, and I expect him to brush Kong aside. But then hes got the winner of either Stephen Bunting or Mensur Suljovic. I think that will be a tough game. I know Bunting has not made the charge up the rankings like we thought he would. But hes feeling good and you can only take the man on his word.After that, Phil would then have the winner of James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals. Thats going to be really tough. The likelihood is that he would have to beat Gary Anderson in the semis to reach the final. Thats probably the toughest hes ever had, because hes always been one and two seed and now hes No 3.Can MVG rule again? Michael van Gerwen will be defending the title he won for the first time last year Ive got to say, Michael van Gerwen drawing Jamie Caven is a nice opener for him. Then he will have Vincent van der Voort or Kyle Anderson in the second round. You have got to back him to win that as well and really Dave Chisnall, being the 8th seed - is the one hes got to stop. If he can, that puts him in the semi-finals, so Van Gerwen will be happy with his draw, I feel absolutely sure about that. Could Anderson or Lewis land the title? Gary Anderson has been in fantastic form this season I think Gary Anderson will be happy as well. The only thing for him is - hes the mentor for Michael Smith and hes in the same section. Alan Norris is first up and Im backing Gary to win that game. I dont think Adrian Lewis will be too disappointed with his draw. First round opponent Mark Webster is out of form. But Peter Wright is the danger man in Adrian Lewis quarter, because they are seeded four and five. Adrian Lewis is seeking a first Matchplay crown Will Wade reach another final? James Wade lost a fifth Matchplay final last year James Wade has a horrible draw. Mervyn King first, Barney second, maybe Taylor third, Anderson fourth game and Van Gerwen in the final. But never underestimate James Wade, especially at Blackpool, hes made the final six times. He didnt play well in last years final, but he played well up to it. He likes the place and the format seems to suit him, because he nicks the odd leg and hes hard to break. Hes a really tough competitor is James. Why not Wade? Rod Studd casts his Matchplay verdict You can follow all the action across our digital platforms and on Sky Sports with the action getting underway on Saturday from 7pm and every night through to the final on Sunday July 24 #LoveTheDarts Also See: WATCH: Freddie calls MVG nine-darter Studd: Why not Wade? Dellers darting shocks Matchplay draw/schedule ' ' '