WASHINGTON — A night after churning out a dozen runs against the Washington Nationals in a shutout victory, the Atlanta Braves scratched out just one against the same team.
It took them three-plus innings to put a runner on base, the game was in the sixth before the visitors finally had their first hit of the night, and a couple of opportunities to strike back down the stretch were wasted.
And a year after Atlanta’s lineup came up with big hit after big hit behind historic power, the clutch moments are missing.
CJ Abrams hit a home run, Jake Irvin gave up one run and two hits in six innings, and the Nationals beat the Braves 5-1 on Wednesday night to split a two-game set at Nationals Park.
Atlanta starting pitcher Max Fried kept his team close despite giving up 11 hits in six innings, but the Braves had just six hits and lost for the sixth time in its past 11 games.
“We’ve just been having a hard time scoring runs,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “You still have to score. You’ve got to really, really pitch good, which we have, but the offense has got to be more consistent if you’re going to support the pitching.”
Fried (9-9) allowed four runs on 11 hits, striking out six batters, hitting one and walking none in a 94-pitch outing. The 30-year-old left-hander, an MLB All-Star this year for the second time in three seasons, has gone at least six innings in four of his past five starts, but this was his first time allowing four earned runs since Aug. 10.
“You can’t control a lot, but at the same time it’s frustrating because we’re trying to win games,” Fried said. “It doesn’t matter if a ball is hit 40 mph or 120 mph, I’d much rather be getting an out. It’s frustrating.”
Irvin (10-12), who struck out five batters and walked one, held the Braves hitless for 5 2/3 innings. He was 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA in four starts against Atlanta this season.
“Those guys get to see me a lot, but the role’s reversed as well,” Irvin said. “Just understanding what those guys do and how we can best pitch around them and pitch to them, I think, helped out a lot.”
Atlanta is the six-time reigning champion in the National League East, but its quests for both a seventh straight division title and a seventh straight postseason appearance are in danger with less than three weeks left in the regular season.
The Phillies, at 88-58, sit atop the NL East with an eight-game lead over the second-place New York Mets (80-68). The Braves (79-67) are a game behind the Mets in both the division and for the third and final spot in the NL wild-card race. The top two teams in that category are the NL West’s Arizona Diamondbacks (82-64) and San Diego Padres (82-65).
The Nationals (65-80), fourth in the NL East and 22 1/2 games out of first place, finished the season series against the Braves with an 8-5 advantage.
Abrams’ 420-foot home run over the wall in center field during the fourth inning was the fourth-longest shot of his MLB career, and it left the ballpark at 105.8 mph. With his 20th homer of 2024, he is the fifth player in Nationals history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, joining Lane Thomas (2023), Bryce Harper (2016), Ian Desmond (2012, 2013, 2014) and Alfonso Soriano (2006).
“That’s a heck of an accomplishment for a young player,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “I’m really proud of him. He’s been battling every day. To get that out of the way, maybe he can relax a little bit and finish up the season strong.”
Dylan Crews added a pair of hits for Washington, including an RBI single, breaking an 0-for-10 slump. James Wood’s on-base streak reached a career-high 12 games as he finished with two singles and an RBI.
Michael Harris II lined a double to the wall in right-center for the Braves’ first hit with two outs in the top of the sixth. Jorge Soler followed with a double to make it 4-1. Irvin mixed his curveball with his sinker before finishing Marcell Ozuna with a 92 mph fastball on a swinging strikeout to end the threat.
The Braves managed to get a runner into scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings with one out, but they were not able to push a run across, going 1-for-7 in such opportunities for the game.
“We have to be better,” Snitker said. “It still hurts when you get guys on, you can’t get them in.”
The Braves are off Thursday before beginning a four-game home series with the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (5-7, 3.78 ERA) is set to start the series opener at Truist Park, while the Dodgers will counter with right-hander Landon Knack (2-3, 3.00).