The Washington Nationals mustered just five hits and two runs in a deflating series ending loss against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday
The Washington Nationals end the seven game homestead just 2-5 after dropping the series finale against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday afternoon, 7-2.
James Wood would kick it off with a solo 375 foot shot to open the Nationals order in the first inning, marking his third home run in as many games. It also marked his second leadoff home run of the season and fifth of his career, while also joining CJ Abrams as the only Nationals players to hit a leadoff home run against a pitcher making his MLB debut.
Yet after three clean innings and five strikeouts for Cade Cavalli, Atlanta would break him in the fourth inning after the first two batters knocked doubles into right field, setting up a sac fly then RBI single to push the Nationals into a 2-1 deficit.
Cavalli would be able to bounce back where he notched a career-best ten strikeouts thanks to a trio of consecutive strikeouts to end the fifth inning. Cavalli would face one more batter in the sixth inning to end his day, allowing a pair of earned runs and seven hits through five innings on 85 pitches and 62 strikes.
Richard Lovelady would step in to replace Cavalli after giving up a single to open the sixth before facing a pair of runners in scoring position thanks to a bunt, but the Nationals would get out of the jam thanks to a strikeout in his final at bat of the day.
Yet the game would unravel with Cionel Perez on the mound to start the seventh inning where he struck out Robert Acuna Jr. before allowing the next three Braves to get on base, forcing manager Blake Butera to turn back to his bullpen with Gus Varland replacing him after just four batters.
Varland's first pitch then went behind the backstop, giving the Braves a chance to move ahead in what proved to be the final lead change of the day. Atlanta answered with a single then double in the next two at bats, pushing the lead to 6-2, before adding a 396 foot solo home run in the top of the ninth inning.
Now sitting 11-15 overall and 3-10 at home, the Nationals will begin a six game road trip starting on Friday when they take on the Chicago White Sox for a 7:40 PM opening pitch. Miles Mikolas is expected to open the series with Jake Irvin and Foster Griffin to follow.