The bottom of the fifth was littered with bad luck for the Braves, allowing the Nationals to take a 4-2 lead. Kyle Wright mitigated the damage _ an emphasis in his continued growth _ and it allowed his offense to take advantage.
Adam Duvall and Ozzie Albies each hit a two-run homer off Max Scherzer in the sixth, and the slugging Braves topped the Nationals 8-4 in the finale at Nationals Park. The Braves won the season series against the Nationals, 6-4, for the third consecutive season.
Washington opened the fifth with three consecutive hits off Wright, none of which were hard hit. The second knock, from Victor Robles, was a broken bat bloop in front of Ronald Acuna, who was playing deep in center. The third hit was Adam Eaton's bunt single.
Wright got Trea Turner to ground into a potential double play at second. Albies tagged the base but delivered an errant throw to first. Two Nationals scored for a 4-2 lead.
After intentionally walking Juan Soto, Wright drew another double play ball from Asdrubal Cabrera. The Braves converted that time, avoiding a disastrous inning.
As they've done so often this season, the Braves quickly turned a deficit into a lead. Nick Markakis' single set up Duvall's homer, which was his MLB-leading ninth this month. Two pitches later, Austin Riley singled up the middle. Albies homered on the first pitch he saw, ending Scherzer's day.
Despite 10 strikeouts, the Braves scored six runs (two homers) on nine hits off Scherzer in 5-1/3 innings. Wright outpitched the three-time Cy Young winner, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits across his six innings.
The Braves became the third National League team to reach 28 wins, joining the Dodgers (32) and Padres (29). They hold the NL's No. 2 seed with 13 games remaining, meaning they'd host the No. 7 seed (currently San Francisco) in a best-of-three series at Truist Park to begin the postseason.
