Culberson wins it again for Braves with pinch-hit HR in 9th

Atlanta Braves' Charlie Culberson reacts after hitting a walkoff two-run home run over the left field wall during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, June 3, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Braves' Charlie Culberson reacts after hitting a walkoff two-run home run over the left field wall during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, June 3, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

ATLANTA (AP) - Pinch-hitter Charlie Culberson hit a game-ending two-run homer to lift the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

It was the second time this week that Culberson homered to win a game and marked Atlanta's ninth win in its last at-bat. The NL East-leading Braves have scored 109 runs in the seventh inning or later, most in the NL.

Tanner Roark (2-6) pitched the ninth in his first relief appearance this season, giving up Dansby Swanson's double and Culberson's second long ball.

Of Culberson's eight career homers, four have ended a game. He also has four career pinch-hit homers. Swanson's fifth homer made it 2-all off Shawn Kelley.

Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino (2-2) allowed his first two batters to reach in the ninth, but Mark Reynolds lined out and Vizcaino struck out Brian Goodwin and Michael Taylor.

The Nationals went up 2-1 in the third when Wilmer Difo reached on Swanson's throwing error and Trea Turner went deep for the seventh time.

Turner's homer was the 89th allowed by Braves starter Anibal Sanchez since the start of 2015, but he gave up only two other baserunners - a double and a walk to Taylor. Sanchez struck out five in seven innings.

First baseman Reynolds' throwing error in the first caused starter Jeremy Hellickson to drop the ball as he covered the bag on Ozzie Albies' grounder. Hellickson immediately clutched the back top of his leg and walked slowly off the field with an apparent hamstring injury.

Rodriguez, recalled from the minors earlier in the day with Tim Collins on the paternity list, retired Freddie Freeman on one pitch before Markakis' two-out single made it 1-0. He settled down to finish with three strikeouts and four hits and two walks allowed in 4 2/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: 2B Daniel Murphy, sidelined all season following micro-fracture surgery in October, has made four errors in six rehab games with Double-A Harrisburg. He and OF Adam Eaton will be reevaluated Monday by the team medical staff. Eaton could return in a few days, but Murphy's status is less certain. Manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Murphy, who's hitting .208 with a homer and six RBIs in six games, looks labored when he runs and moves laterally. ... 1B Matt Adams had negative X-rays after fouling a ball off his right foot and leaving Saturday's game in the middle of the fourth. ... Turner stayed in the game after fouling a ball off his foot in the sixth.

Braves: LHP Luiz Gohara was reinstated from the restricted list after spending over a week with his ill mother in Brazil. Gohara, whose father died during the offseason, will pitch in relief.

GOING STRONG

Freeman doubled off the top of the wall in the third and is hitting .375 during a 16-game hitting streak, the NL's longest this season.

LOOKING SHARP

Turner was impressive at shortstop in the third, charging forward to make barehanded play to throw out Ender Inciarte and jumping to glove Markakis' hard grounder and bounce a throw to first baseman Mark Reynolds. ... CF Taylor turned and ran to catch Ozzie Albies' fly against the wall in the fourth. ... Braves CF Ender Inciarte ran forward to make a shoestring catch

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (9-1, 1.92 ERA) starts Tuesday against Tampa Bay. The ace leads the majors in wins and strikeouts with 120. He's coming off an eight-inning performance in which he struck out 12 in eight scoreless innings at Baltimore.

Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (4-3, 4.03 ERA) will make his ninth career start against the Padres. He's 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three outings at San Diego. Teheran went 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in five starts last month.

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