The Atlanta Braves fell to the Washington Nationals 8-5 on Sunday afternoon in the last meeting of a four game set at Nationals Park up in Washington DC. It allowed Washington to take this series among rivals in the National League East by three games to one and increase their lead in the teams’ season series to 6-2.
The Braves scored two runs in the top of the second inning as Michael Harris II had an RBI single and Travis d’Arnaud reached home plate on a wild pitch. The Nationals surged ahead with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Luis Garcia Jr, a three run homer by Keibert Ruiz, and a three-run double by CJ Abrams. Ruiz added another run with a sac fly in the fifth. Jarred Kelenic clubbed a three-run homer for the Braves during the top of the ninth inning.
Hurston Waldrep took the loss for Atlanta in his major league debut. He gave up seven runs and four hits, walked four, and struck out one in three and two-third innings of work. Jacob Barnes got the win in relief, and Kyle Finnegan picked up the save for Washington.
Braves relief pitcher Jesse Chavez reached a milestone with his 1,000 career strikeout in the fifth.
The Braves remain in second place of the NL East with a record of 35-28 for the 2024 season. They have a scheduled off-day today and will open a three-game series in Baltimore, MD versus the Orioles on Tuesday night. The first pitch is slated for 6:35 pm. Listen to play-by-play coverage from the Atlanta Braves Radio Network on WLAQ 1410 AM/96.9 FM; airtime is 5:20 pm.