Washington's Victor Robles had three hits on Saturday, but the shortest one was the most important as the visiting Nationals topped the Atlanta Braves 10-4.
With runners on the corners in the sixth inning, Robles popped up a bunt on a high pitch from Tyler Matzek in a spot that Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman couldn't get to for the catch. Robles easily beat Matzek to the bag, allowing Brock Holt to score the go-ahead run.
The Nationals (14-24) sent nine batters to the plate in the ninth inning and scored five insurance runs.
The winning pitcher was Kyle McGowin (1-0), who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief and fanned four. The Nationals had four relievers cover the final 5 1/3 innings without allowing a hit.
Matzek (3-3) allowed two runs on three hits in his one inning and took the loss.
Neither starting pitcher was involved in the decision. Atlanta's Max Fried permitted a season-high three runs in five innings, giving up five hits, walking three and striking out four. Washington's Erick Fedde pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits -- three of them home runs -- with four walks and two strikeouts.
The Nationals scored twice in the first on Kurt Suzuki's grounder and Carter Kieboom's single.
The Braves (23-16) answered in the bottom of the inning when Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his ninth home run. It also set a franchise record for the most career leadoff homers (18), breaking the mark held by Felipe Alou and doing it in one-third the time. Alou needed 633 games as the leadoff hitter, Acuna did it in 210 games batting from the No. 1 spot.
Atlanta took the lead in the third on a two-run homer by Travis d'Arnaud, his sixth, and stretched the margin to 4-2 when Adam Duvall hit a solo homer in the fourth.
Washington cut it to 4-3 on Johan Camargo's throwing error, the first by an Atlanta second baseman this season.
The Nationals then took the lead in the sixth as Luis Garcia drove in a run with a sharp single to set up Robles' well-placed hit.
Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman's 18-game hitting streak ended as he went 0-for-3.
--Field Level Media
Washington | Atlanta | |
Erick Fedde | Player | Max Fried |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
3.2 | IP | 5.0 |
2 | Strikeouts | 4 |
6 | Hits | 5 |
9.82 | ERA | 5.40 |
Washington | Atlanta | |
Brock Holt | Player | Travis d'Arnaud |
4 | Hits | 2 |
1 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 1 |
6 | TB | 5 |
.800 | Avg | .500 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Washington | 14 | 0 | 19 | .341 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Atlanta | 6 | 3 | 16 | .182 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 |