Travis d’Arnaud made a triumphant return to the Atlanta lineup by delivering a go-ahead RBI single during the Braves’ 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday. d’Arnaud had been sidelined since August 17 after being hit by a pitch on his right wrist in a game against the Los Angeles Angels. His clutch single in the sixth inning against Washington capped a two-run rally that secured the Braves’ third consecutive win and their sixth in the last seven games. Despite the victory, Atlanta remained five games behind Philadelphia in the National League East, as the Phillies also won against the Kansas City Royals.
The Braves tied the game in the sixth when Matt Olson doubled off reliever Robert Garcia (2-5) on an 0-2 pitch, narrowly missing a home run, which brought Whit Merrifield home. d’Arnaud then singled up the middle to drive in Olson. Atlanta added another run in the eighth inning when Ramon Laureano hit his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot off reliever Joe La Sorsa. Braves starter Charlie Morton pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The Braves’ bullpen, featuring Aaron Bummer, Dylan Lee, Grant Holmes, and Pierce Johnson, held the Nationals scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings. Bummer (4-2) earned the win, and Johnson, filling in for setup man Joe Jimenez and closer Raisel Iglesias, recorded his second save.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts, benefiting from two double plays. Washington took an early lead in the second inning when Jose Tena hit his first career home run, a two-run shot to right-center field. Tena, who was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline, had a strong game, going 3-for-4. The Braves cut the Nationals’ lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Orlando Arcia, his 13th of the season.
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