Atlanta BravesvsWashington Nationals
ATL 5/WSH 9
Things to say
The Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 at Nationals Park.
01
opener
Nats jumped on Atlanta early and never gave it back. Nine runs at home, and it honestly wasn't even that close. Braves' pitching just couldn't find the zone.
02
key player
The whole heart of the order was locked in for Washington. They put up nine and left the yard when it mattered. Braves had no answer for the bats tonight.
03
hot take
A last-place Nats team just handed a first-place club a nine-spot. That tells you Atlanta's rotation is limping into September.
04
deep cut
Braves are 82-57 and still got run out of the building by a 67-74 team. That's a getaway-day loss you don't want on the ledger heading into a playoff push.
05
exit
Braves better regroup fast, though, because that division race isn't waiting on anybody.
The recap
The Nationals played spoiler at home, knocking off the first-place Braves 9-5 in a game that got away from Atlanta early. Washington's bats did the heavy lifting, hanging a crooked number and never really giving the lead back.
Atlanta's five runs looked fine on paper, but they were chasing all afternoon and the pitching couldn't slam the door. Getaway-day baseball at its finest — the underdog Nats grabbed this one and sent the crowd home happy.