WASHINGTON — The Atlanta Braves may be the reigning World Series champions who are seeking a fifth straight finish atop the National League East Divisions standings, but they've spent most of this season chasing the New York Mets.
With those two clubs off Thursday before they meet in a three-game series that will mark their final showdown of the regular season, a pair of 10-inning contests Wednesday night put both back in familiar positions.
CJ Abrams' third hit of the game drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th as the last-place Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 3-2 on Wednesday night to avoid a three-game series sweep. Not long after that, Eduardo Escobar's one-out RBI single in the bottom of the 10th in New York completed the Mets' rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Miami Marlins 5-4.
The Braves (97-59) are one game behind the Mets (98-58), and the teams are set to open a three-game series Friday in Atlanta — weather permitting, with the path of Hurricane Ian playing a big part. Each will play a three-game series against another NL East foe after that to complete the schedule, and both clubs have already clinched a postseason berth, with the second-place finisher destined to be the NL's top wild card.
But after starting Wednesday tied with the Mets, the Braves missed a chance to keep maximum pressure on the NL East leaders. One win by the Mets at Truist Park would give them the season series tiebreaker over Atlanta.
"Couldn't get a big hit," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "Bullpen came in and held the game there, just couldn't get anything going offensively."
The Nationals' Victor Robles bunted leading off the 10th against Jackson Stephens (3-3). Robles was initially called safe, but the call was overturned, with Alex Call moving to third after starting on second as the automatic runner. With the infield in, pinch-hitter César Hernández walked. Lane Thomas grounded to third, but Abrams singled to right, scoring Call.
It was the first walk-off hit as an MLB player for Abrams, a 21-year-old Atlanta-area native who joined Washington via last month's trade that sent Josh Bell and Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres.
"Oh man, that was really fun," Abrams said. "Close game, extra innings. That's a dream. It was a lot of fun."
Matt Olson had two hits, including his 30th homer of the season, for the Braves. His homer tied the game at 1 in the second inning.
"Like to come away with a win there tonight, but a big series coming up. Still got a chance to win this division," Olson said. "I'm sure it's gonna be a packed house there."
Kyle Finnegan (6-4) pitched two innings for the win.
Atlanta tied it at 2 in the eighth. With two outs and a runner on second, Michael Harris II hit a grounder up the middle. Luis Garcia made a diving stop but bounced his throw to first, and Joey Meneses couldn't handle it. Harris was safe, and Dansby Swanson came around with the tying run as the ball bounced away.
Washington starter Josiah Gray gave up a run on two hits in six innings. He walked two batters and struck out two.
Braves starter Jake Odorizzi allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked three batters without a strikeout. He was coming off a loss to the Phillies in which he gave up eight runs on 10 hits and three walks in four innings.
"Too many free passes. That's the thing that's been bothering me. Just the execution of pitches," Odorizzi said. "Stuff's not the issue, it's the location, it's the execution."
In the third, Abrams singled and went to third when Eddie Rosario misplayed the ball in left. Luke Voit lined a single to left, scoring Abrams to make it 2-1.
Harris went 1-for-5 while hitting third in the lineup for the first time. The rookie center fielder has now batted at least once in every position in the order since joining the Braves in late May.
"He gets so many big RBIs," Snitker said before the game. "Just trying to figure out where to put him to get him up there. I like it when he comes up. It's a good at-bat, and he's come through. Right now, he's a versatile guy, and I see him down the road as being a top-four guy."
The Braves and Mets are both off Thursday. The scheduled starting pitchers for Friday's game are Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (13-7, 2.50 ERA) and New York right-hander Chris Bassitt (15-8, 3.27).
Fried is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts versus New York this season. Bassitt is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Atlanta.
New York is 9-7 overall versus the Braves this year, including 3-4 in Atlanta.