ATLANTA – The Washington Nationals’ new young battery gave the franchise hope for the future and helped spoil the Atlanta Braves’ push to gain more ground in their battle for a fourth straight division title.
Riley Adams’ two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning gave the Washington Nationals the lead as they rallied with three runs off closer Will Smith to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Saturday night.
Smith blew a two-run edge in the ninth, wasting a strong start from Charlie Morton and costing Atlanta an opportunity to move past the New York Mets and into second place in the tight National League East standings. The Braves had won four games in a row to match their longest streak of the season.
Adams, a rookie catcher who took a .091 batting average into the game, crushed the first pitch he saw from Smith for a high home run, the first of his MLB career, into the seats beyond left field at Truist Park. The homer drove in Ryan Zimmerman, who had a pinch-hit double.
Adams’ shot sailed so high, even he didn’t know where it landed.