CJ Abrams’ single scored Alex Call with the winning run and the Washington Nationals defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 3-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
The Braves (97-59) began the night tied with the Mets atop the NL East and the teams open a three-game series Friday in Atlanta.
Victor Robles bunted leading off the tenth against Jackson Stephens (3-3). Robles was called out after a review but Call advanced to third on the play. Pinch hitter Cesar Hernandez walked. Lane Thomas grounded to third for the second out, but Abrams ended the game with a single to right.
Kyle Finnegan (6-4) pitched two innings for the win.
Matt Olson hit his 30th homer of the season and added a single for the Braves, who had won four straight.
Pinch hitter William Contreras led off the eighth inning with a double for Atlanta. After a fly out and a fielder’s choice left Dansby Swanson on second, Michael Harris II hit a grounder up the middle. Second baseman Luis Garcia made a diving stop but he bounced his throw to first and Joey Meneses couldn’t handle it. Harris was safe and Swanson came around with the tying run on the error.
Josiah Gray turned in a strong outing for Washington, giving up a run on two hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Abrams had three hits for the Nationals (54-101), who improved to 16-53 against NL East opponents.
Braves starter Jake Odorizzi was lifted after 3 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits with three walks and no strikeouts.
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first. Thomas led off with walk, went to second on an infield single by Abrams, took third on a fly out by Meneses and scored on Luke Voit’s sacrifice fly to center.
Olson promptly tied it 1-1 when he went the opposite way on an 0-2 fastball with one out in the second.
Abrams singled with one out in the Washington third and raced to second when left fielder Eddie Rosario misplayed the ball. Abrams went to third on a fly out and scored on Voit’s single to left to make it 2-1.
–Field Level Media