The Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Wednesday, to snap Atlanta’s 10-game winning streak.
The Nationals’ James Wood launched two home runs in the sixth and eighth innings (giving him 30 home runs on the year), while Josh Bell added another (his 21st of the season), helping Mitchell Parker (9-16) pick up the win in relief after recording the final two outs of the fifth inning. Parker came in for rookie starter Andrew Alvarez, who delivered 4 1/3 scoreless frames in just his fifth career start. The 26-year-old left-hander has now logged 23 1/3 innings with a 2.31 ERA.
Braves starter Bryce Elder (8-11) took the loss in his final outing of the season, allowing three runs on six hits across seven innings while striking out seven. Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin hit his 19th home run in the sixth inning, a solo shot to left field; and Marcell Ozuna went deep in the eighth. Across the last two games of the series, the teams combined for 10 solo home runs.
The game ended in dramatic fashion in the 9th inning; with two outs, Ronald Acuña Jr. appeared out on an infield grounder, but a replay review overturned the call, keeping Atlanta alive. Moments later, C.B. Bucknor ruled Baldwin safe at first, but another review reversed the decision, sealing the Nationals’ win.
Next up for Atlanta will be their final three-game set of the year at home against the Pirates, with lefty Joey Wentz (5-6, 5.46 ERA) taking the mound Friday.
Washington will square off against Chicago White Sox on Friday, with Nationals’ right-hander Cade Cavalli (3-1, 4.23 ERA) facing Chicago righty Yoendrys Gomez (3-3, 4.92 ERA) in the opener of their three-game series.
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