The Washington Nationals fell, 5-4, after giving up a walkout single in the 11th inning.
The Washington Nationals fell to 4-5 in extra inning games this season after a 5-4 loss against the Braves in Atlanta to open the weekend series.
Miles Mikolas dazzled on Friday night while Richard Lovelady served as the opener once again where he allowed one hit on 12 pitches through the first inning.
After the two teams combined for seven hits through the first five innings, Curtis Mead would break the scoring drought for both teams after leading off the sixth inning with a 404 foot home run on a six pitch at bat, marking his fifth home run of the season.
With the Nationals ahead, Blake Butera opted to keep Mikolas on the mound where he would get out of the sixth inning thanks to a strikeout and pair of fly outs.
Mikolas ended the night allowing just three hits while tossing three strikeouts on 66 pitches and five innings. It marked his first outing without allowing an earned run since his win back on April 19 against the San Francisco Giants.
Yet with Mitchell Parker replacing him to start the seventh inning, Atlanta would find a way to answer back.
After giving up an infield single, Parker gave up a walk before a single put runners on the corners while driving in the game-tying run. The next at bat, a perfectly executed bunt gave the Braves the lead with still just one out.
CJ Abrams would deliver the following inning after blasting a 3-0 pitch, 98 mph fastball 405 feet for the solo shot to tie the game at two.
The deadlock would send the teams into extra innings where CJ Abrams would deliver a two-run RBI triple into right field in the 10th inning, but the Braves would get in all back through the first three at bats of the bottom of the inning after Orlando Ribalta gave up a single then infield single.
Yet it would be Atlanta do deliver the heroics in the bottom of the 11th with Paxton Schultz on the mound. After a fly out into center then strike out put the Nationals on the cusp of another chance, a single into centerfield was enough to beat the throw for the game-winning run in a 5-4 finish.
The Nationals will look to bounce back in game two of the series beginning at 4:10 PM on Saturday with Jake Irvin is set to take the mound.
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