Joey Meneses hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to help the visiting Washington Nationals rally for a 3-2 win against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday afternoon and avoid a three-game sweep
Meneses and Tres Barrera each had two hits for the Nationals, who ended a three-game losing streak.
Nationals starter Paolo Espino went four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits, with two strikeouts and two walks.
Andres Machado (2-0) earned the win in relief and Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his 11th save.
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder allowed one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two but was denied his second MLB victory when Jesse Chavez (4-2) gave up the two-run homer to Meneses.
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris II had two hits each for the Braves, who had won five in a row and clinched a playoff spot with a 3-2 win against the Nationals on Tuesday night.
Chavez relieved Tyler Matzek with one in the seventh and a runner on first. Meneses drilled a 1-2 pitch 420 feet over the fence in left for a 3-2 lead.
The Braves (93-56) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Acuna singled to lead off the inning and Matt Olson walked with two outs. William Contreras reached on an infield single and Acuna scored on the second throwing error of the inning by Espino.
Robbie Grossman singled with one out in the second and Acuna came through with a two-out RBI single to stretch the lead to 2-0.
The Nationals (52-97) stranded runners on first and third in the third inning but didn’t let that situation go to waste in the fifth when Lane Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Luis Garcia followed with a double to right to put runners on second and third with two outs. Meneses was walked intentionally to load the bases before Luke Voit grounded out to second to end the threat.
–Field Level Media
