The Washington Nationals needed three pitchers to close out the ninth inning, but it was just enough in a 2-1 win to clinch the series against the Atlanta Braves
The Washington Nationals are back at .500 once again after defeating the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, marking the latest the franchise has reached the mark since the 2021 season to reach a new high point to begin the Blake Butera era.
The scoring would break open in the fifth inning thanks to Daylen Lile leading off with a double into centerfield for a walk up double before Jacob Young put runners on the corners with a single into left field. The third consecutive hit would end a long drought for the Nationals after Nasim Nunez drove in an RBI single for the team's first hit in the last 23 runners in scoring opportunities.
Foster Griffin would follow it up by taking down the next six consecutive batters to allow just three hits through six innings, adding six strikeouts with just one walk in an encouraging follow-up performance.
Then the weather called in after Daylen Lile took just two pitches before a rain delay was called, despite a downpour of rain the previous three frames and thunder heard in the area just prior. Nearly 90 minutes later, the Nationals were finally able to answer with a much needed insurance run.
After Keibert Ruiz flied out to center to begin the eighth, James Wood drew his 44th walk of the season before his eighth steal of the season got him to second base. A Curtis Mead fly out would get Wood to third base before Luis Garcia Jr. drove him home on an RBI single into right field to put the Nationals ahead, 2-0.
The Nationals would threaten one last time after Jacob Young reached base on a hit by pitch before stealing second, but a Keibert Ruiz line out to first would end the threat.
Andrew Alvarez would come in to replace Griffin in the seventh inning where he went on to allow just one hit across 1.1 innings before Gus Varland came in for the save opportunity, but it materialized into three different pitchers on the mound in an attempt to close the game.
After Varland gave up a pair of hits to open the bottom of the ninth, Richard Lovelady would come out to replace him on the mound.
A flyout on the first at bat kept the runners on the corners, but a fielding error by Nasim Nunez would end the shutout bid before a walk loaded up the bases.
With the bases loaded, Orlando Ribalta would then come out to take the mound where his four-pitch strikeout notched the second out of the frame. With Robert Acuna Jr. on the mound for the game's final out, Ribalta forced a ground out to end the game.
With the Nationals now back at .500, they'll look to stay hot on the road in search of their third straight series win when they take on the Cleveland Guardians beginning Monday, May 25 for a 6:10 PM first pitch.
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