The Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies is safe at home as Washington Nationals catcher Matt Wieters can't make the tag in time, with home plate umpire Greg Gibson watching, during the seventh inning of Wednesday night's game in Washington.WASHINGTON - Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Mike Foltynewicz worked his way out of a precarious jam early. A few innings later, rookie teammate Ronald Acuna Jr. lent a high-rising, helping hand at the center-field wall.
Combining clutch pitching, long-ball hitting and Acuna's deft skill in the outfield, the Braves beat the Washington Nationals 8-3 Wednesday night.
Foltynewicz needed 35 pitches to get out of the first inning. He gave up a double, a single and a walk, and another Washington batter reached on a throwing error - yet the Nationals scored only one unearned run and left the bases loaded.
"I knew if I could limit the damage to even two runs there," Foltynewicz said, "our offense would get some runs back."
After that, former Calhoun High School standout Charlie Culberson hit a three-run homer in the second inning off Tommy Milone (1-1), and Tyler Flowers and Acuna added two-run shots in the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth, Acuna made a sensational catch to rob Matt Adams of a home run. Acuna raced back to the center-field wall, leaped and snagged the ball with his outstretched glove before sprawling on the warning track. Foltynewicz waved his cap to show his appreciation for the play.
"He's a very skilled player," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Acuna. "He's got a ways to go. He's far from being a finished product, but he's a very talented young man. He's an exciting player because he's got skills."
Atlanta has won eight of 10 to move within a half-game of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. Washington fell six games back following its second consecutive loss to the Braves.
Bryce Harper hit his 28th home run of the season for the Nationals, who showed their frustration in the sixth inning when rookie Juan Soto and hitting coach Kevin Long were ejected by home plate umpire Greg Gibson. Soto started jawing at Gibson before stepping into the batter's box, sharing his opinion on a third-strike call on his previous at-bat.
After the game, Soto said he was surprised to be thrown out, contending that he didn't "say anything wrong."
So what did he say?
"That the pitch before was a ball," Soto explained. "Make sure he can understand and be better. Help him help us."
Said Washington manager Dave Martinez: "I didn't think it was appropriate to throw him out in a situation like that, really. He could have said, 'Hey that's enough. Let's get in the box,' whatever."
That wasn't the only thing that angered Martinez.
"We left 10 guys on base," he lamented. "We got 10 hits, but we couldn't get that big hit."
It was 7-2 in the sixth before Harper hit a leadoff homer and Soto was ejected. Washington went on to load the bases with two outs before Luke Jackson replaced Foltynewicz and struck out Adam Eaton.
Foltynewicz (9-7) allowed three runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He's 3-2 in five starts against Washington this season.
Culberson has homered in all three games in this series. He has eight home runs this season, with all but three against the Nationals.