WASHINGTON (AP) – Dansby Swanson blew the wall for the third straight game and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Washington Nationals 6-5 on Sunday night to complete the sweep in the three-game series.
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Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his two-run homer as he rounds the bases in the third inning of the game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo / Nick Wass)
Swanson fired a two-run dash to increase the Braves’ lead to 3-0 in the third inning. It was his 24th home run of the season, a total that includes two on Saturday and one more on Friday for four of Atlanta’s 11 home runs in the series.
The Braves set a franchise record with their eighth straight win at Washington and 10 of the last 12 at the Nationals’ home. They started the day tied with Philadelphia in the top of the National League East.
Jesse Chavez (3-2) allowed two runs and three hits, and Will Smith hung up zero in the ninth for 25 saves. Smith walked two but struck out Victor Robles and Juan Soto.
The Nationals hit seven straight losses, their worst streak of the season, and are 10-30 since July 1.
Washington tied the score with a three-run attack in the third inning. Robles hit an RBI single, Adrian Sanchez scored on starter Drew Smyly’s wild pitch and Soto hit a sacrifice fly that carried Robles to the register.
Freddie Freeman momentarily seized the team lead with his 25th homer to open the fifth inning. Two pitches later, Austin Riley tied him with 25 homers to give the Braves a 5-3 lead and end the performance of Nationals starter Paolo Espino (3-4).
For the Braves, Cubans Jorge Soler 5-0; Guillermo Heredia 1-0. Dominican Abraham Almonte 1-0.
For the Nationals, the Dominicans Víctor Robles 5-2 with one RBI and one scored; Juan Soto 2-0 with one produced and one scored. Venezuelan Adrián Sánchez 4-1 with one scored. The Panamanian Paolo Espino 1-0. The Cuban Yadiel Hernández 1-0.
