Mike Yastrzemski and Matt Olson homered for the Atlanta Braves, who beat the visiting Washington Nationals 4-2 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep.
The National League East leaders got just seven hits but made the most of them to extend their winning streak to five. The Braves also took advantage of two errors by the Nationals to score two unearned runs.
That included a fifth-inning error by shortstop CJ Abrams, who fielded Jim Jarvis’ grounder up the middle cleanly, but his wild throw to first allowed Jarvis to reach. It also let Austin Riley, who hit a one-out double off Nationals starter Cade Cavalli (8-5), score from second.
Olson went 2-for-4, while Yastrzemski finished 1-for-2, adding a seventh-inning sacrifice fly to score Mauricio Dubon. Dubon singled to start the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Orlando Ribalta.
Dylan Dodd (3-1) threw a perfect fifth inning to get the victory. He followed JR Ritchie, whom the Braves called up from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day after placing Reynaldo Lopez on the 15-day injured list after injuring his knee while warming up for his scheduled start on Saturday. Ritchie struck out four and gave up two runs on four hits and three walks through the first four innings.
Yastrzemski gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead after he started the third inning with his eighth homer of the season.
Washington loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, and Andres Chaparro was hit by a Ritchie pitch to tie the game. James Wood followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Nationals ahead.
That lead was short-lived as Olson hit his 31st homer of the season to lead off the fourth against Cavalli.
Cavalli allowed six hits over six innings and walked one. He allowed three runs (two earned) while striking out three.
Four Braves relievers limited the Nationals to no hits and two walks over the last five innings while striking out seven. Didier Fuentes struck out four in two innings, and Raisel Iglesias allowed a walk in the ninth to get his 24th save.
–Field Level Media
