Taylor's pinch-hit HR lifts Nationals over Braves, 5-2 in 10

Washington Nationals' Michael Taylor hits a three-run homer to win the game during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-2.
Washington Nationals' Michael Taylor hits a three-run homer to win the game during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-2.

WASHINGTON - Michael Taylor had a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Bryce Harper, who hit his 32nd homer in the first inning, singled off Matt Marksberry (0-3) leading off the 10th. Reliever Brandon Cunniff came on and Ryan Zimmerman grounded a single up the middle, sending Harper to third.

Taylor, who missed the last two games with a sore right knee, batted for Jonathan Papelbon and hit a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center for his 14th home run.

Washington tied the score on Matt den Dekker's RBI single with two outs in the ninth. Yunel Escobar doubled to lead off the inning against Aradys Vizcaino, and pinch-runner Trea Turner scored on den Dekker's hit.

Papelbon (3-1), in his longest outing of the season, pitched two scoreless innings.

Freddie Freeman had three hits for the Braves, who have lost 10 in a row for the first time since 2006.

The Nationals pulled five games behind the NL-East leading Mets, who lost 6-5 in 11 innings at Miami.

Atlanta took a 2-1 lead in the eighth when Freeman doubled against Drew Storen and scored on pinch-hitter Nick Swisher's one-out single.

Atlanta starter Julio Teheran continually pitched out of trouble, allowing a run and five hits and four walks in six innings.

Tanner Roark, pitching in place of Stephen Strasburg, was making his first start since June 28. He was lifted with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning with the score tied 1-1.

Joe Thornton retired A.J. Pierzynski and Adonis Garcia to end the threat.

After walking four times without a swing Thursday, Harper's first at-bat Friday night ended when he Teheran's 3-2 pitch into the seats in right center to make it 1-0.

The Braves tied it in the third. Nick Markakis went first to third on a single to deep left by Freeman, and scored when Pierzynski hit a dribbler toward third and beat the throw at first.

Washington left the bases loaded in the third and sixth innings, and wasn't able to cash in after the first two batters reached in the fourth.

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