Instant Analysis: Nats 11, Braves 4

Foster Griffin was given the opportunity to complete six innings, and the Nationals' bats broke out late during a lopsided win over Atlanta

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

Blake Butera gave his starter a chance to complete six innings. Foster Griffin made good for his manager. And a Nationals lineup that kept giving itself chances to break this game open all night finally delivered to secure a lopsided victory over the Braves.

With a three-run bottom of the first and a three-run bottom of the seventh, the Nats took advantage of the 12 walks issued by Atlanta pitching (the most they’ve drawn in a game since Sept. 27, 2020). Luis García Jr. went 4-for-5 with four RBI, including a clutch bases-loaded double in the seventh. James Wood homered and drew four of the walks, helping knock Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez out two batters into the second. Curtis Mead put a final stamp on the win with a three-run homer in the eighth.

Griffin gave up a pair of solo homers to Drake Baldwin and Eli White, plus an RBI double to Michael Harris II, but was able to finish six innings and earn the quality start after Butera surprisingly walked to the mound with two outs in his final inning and left him in the game. The bullpen trio of Gus Varland, Cionel Pérez and Clayton Beeter finished it off, giving the Nats only their third win in 11 home games this season.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: It’s time to give the left-field bullpen at Nationals Park a nickname, because Wood has made it his second home. He launched his eighth homer of the season tonight, a 115-mph laser in the bottom of the second. And five of those have landed in the opposite-field bullpen. Wood also drew four walks (one of them intentional) and thus reached base in five of this game’s first seven innings. But the homer into The Wood Shed – or should it be The Wood Pile? – stood out as the highlight.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: Breaking news: A Nationals starter was given the chance to complete six innings. And he actually did it. When Butera walked to the mound after Foster Griffin issued a two-out walk in the sixth, everyone in the park assumed he would signal to the bullpen. Except he didn’t. He approached the mound and much to Griffin’s surprise appeared to ask the lefty if he wanted to face one more batter. Griffin’s eyes lit up as his manager turned around and walked back to the dugout. Then he proceeded to get Mauricio Dubón to ground out to second to end the inning with a two-run lead intact. It’s only the second time a Nats starter completed six innings this season (Cade Cavalli did it April 1 in Philadelphia) and it’s the first time it happened after a Butera mound visit.

NOTABLE: Jacob Young batted third for the first time in his career, after batting fifth for the first time in his career earlier this month.

UP NEXT: Zack Littell is scheduled to start game three of this four-game series Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. The Braves are going with veteran left-hander Martin Pérez. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM