Donaldson’s homer lifts Braves past Nats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Donaldson homered against Sean Doolittle in the top of the 10th inning, and the Atlanta Braves pulled out a 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday to take two of three in the series and pad their NL East lead to 6½ games.

After the Nationals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, Donaldson swatted a fastball from Doolittle (6-3) over the center-field wall for his 25th homer of the season.

Adam Duvall homered for the fourth time in five games. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Tyler Flowers also drove in runs for the Braves, who won consecutive series in Washington for the first time since 2013. They also won two of three in late June.

Atlanta got another quality road start from Mike Soroka, who pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits, including a leadoff homer to Juan Soto in the second.

That caused his road ERA to climb to 1.20 in 11 starts this season. That’s still the best by a Braves pitcher since Greg Maddux posted a 1.12 mark over 15 starts in 1995.

Washington starter Aníbal Sánchez allowed four runs on 10 hits in five innings.

The Nationals rallied against the Braves’ bullpen. Matt Adams hit a pinch-hit home run against Anthony Swarzak in the eighth to pull within 4-2. In the ninth, Kurt Suzuki singled in a run off Sean Newcomb, who replaced Luke Jackson with no outs and two runners on. Newcomb (5-1) limited the damage from there, getting a double-play grounder from Gerardo Parra that tied the game at 4.

Josh Tomlin worked a scoreless 10th for his second save.

Duvall homered off Sánchez with one out in the second to continue a torrid stretch.

Since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 27 after Nick Markakis broke his left wrist, Duvall is batting .578 with four homers and six RBIs over five games.

Soto’s home run to lead off the second was his 20th, making him the third player in major league history with two 20-homer seasons before his 21st birthday. It was also the sixth consecutive game he has driven in a run, the longest such streak of his career.

UP NEXT

Braves: LHP Max Fried (11-4, 4.21 ERA) aims for his third straight victory as Atlanta opens a four-game home series against Cincinnati.

 

Local News

Anne McCudden steps down as History Center Director

Local News

Spring and March pointers in the landscape!

Local News

Pope’s Museum to debut new mural, exhibit on Saturday

Local News

Dan Bellamy wins 2nd Place Large Artistic Sculpture at International Twist & Shout competition

Local News

Reps. Taylor and Cannon enter final stretch of Legislative Session

Local News

Imagine Thomasville celebrates ribbon cutting for the Army Recruiting Station

Local News

First Commerce’s Barbara Williams-Anderson named Imagine Thomasville’s Woman of the Year

Local News

Two new bronze sculptures unveiled in Downtown Thomasville

Education

Valdosta State University announces Fall 2024 graduates

Education

The Warrior dedicated to Ramsey

Education

Dining for Education Scholarship event sets new record

Education

Thomasville City Schools introduces Bulldog +1 Program

Education

CHS named Region 1-AAA Literary Champions

Local News

City to host stormwater utility public information session

Local News

Thomasville Chapter DAR features program by Thomasville History Center Executive Director Anne McCudden

Local News

Incident Reports & Arrests 03-12

Local News

FLOST Referendum early voting wraps up this week

Education

Rotary Club helps fund CyberStingers’ trip to World Championship

Local News

City of Thomasville’s Family Movie Night returns to Ritz on March 15

Local News

Unlocking financial freedom: How to protect and grow your wealth in uncertain times

Local News

Reps. Cannon and Taylor help pass 75 bills on Crossover Day

Local News

Continue to enjoy portable plants in the landscape!

Education

SRTC names Amy Carter Davis Vice President for Economic Development

Education

Second Graders complete 10th Annual “Ikidarod” Relay