Inciarte's two-run triple gives Braves split with Nats
Ender Inciarte lined a two-run triple with one out in the top of the ninth to give the Atlanta Braves a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.
The win gave Atlanta a split of a day-night doubleheader. The Nationals scored an 8-3 victory in the first game during the afternoon, and Washington was looking for a sweep to try and pull closer to the Braves and Phillies in the National League East.
The game was tied 1-1 when Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis led off the ninth for the Braves with consecutive singles off Kelvin Herrera (2-3). With one out, Inciarte lined a triple down the right-field line that brought in both runners, and that gave the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Herrera left the game at that point with an apparent hand injury, but the Nationals made no comment about the injury immediately after the game.
Jesse Biddle (3-0) earned the victory after 1 2/3 innings scoreless relief. He struck out four. A.J. Minter closed it out in the ninth and picked up his ninth save, locking it up when Matt Wieters lined into a game-ending double play.
The two starters came away with no-decisions despite pitching well. Max Scherzer of Washington allowed one run on four hits in seven innings while trying for a sixth straight win. He struck out six.
For the Braves, Sean Newcomb gave up a run on five hits in six innings with six strikeouts, but both pitchers left with the game tied 1-1.
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first when Juan Soto homered to left, his 14th home run of the season.
Atlanta threatened in the second, putting runners on first and third with two out, but the Braves could not score. In the fourth, they had runners on first and third with no outs. Scherzer escaped without giving up a run, but he threw 33 pitches in the inning.
Atlanta then tied it when Charlie Culberson homered to lead off the sixth, his seventh of the season. Culberson also homered in the ninth inning of the first game.
Also, from the first game, Atlanta pitcher Max Fried (left groin strain) was put on the disabled list. He was hit around the hip by a Spencer Kieboom line drive. Pitcher Shane Carle also was put on the DL, with pitchers Adam McCreery and Wes Parsons recalled to replace them although neither got into this game
--Field Level Media
