Braves beat Nationals for their ninth straight win

ATLANTA — Chris Sale earned his first win against Washington, Ronald Acuña Jr. homered and the Atlanta Braves beat the Nationals 11-5 on Monday night.

The Braves continued their strong run over the final two weeks of the season with their ninth straight win, their longest run since 2023.

Sale (6-5) allowed five runs on three hits over five innings. It was the second time Sale has allowed five earned runs in his 19 starts this season. José Suarez pitched three scoreless innings for his first save.

Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and the NL Rookie of the Year has an RBI in each of his last six games. Acuña reached base five times with a home run, three walks and he was hit by a pitch.

Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore (5-15) gave up four runs on four hits in two innings.

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies left with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. He showed discomfort in his wrist after fouling off a pitch in the third inning while batting against Washington right-hander Konnor Pilkington. He stayed in the game for one more pitch before walking toward the dugout and being attended to by Atlanta’s training staff. Nick Allen finished Albies’ at-bat and replaced him at second base at the start of the fourth inning.

The hamate bone is on the palm side of the hand near the pinky and ring fingers. Albies fractured his left wrist in July 2024.

The 28-year-old Albies has played in all 157 of Atlanta’s games this season. He is batting .240 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs.

Key moment

Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim walked on a check swing to load the bases in the third inning. Home plate umpire Dan Iassogna appealed the check swing down to first base umpire Manny Gonzalez, who said Kim did not swing. Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo was ejected after arguing the call. The Braves went on to score five runs in the inning.

Key stat

Sale entered Monday’s game with an 0-2 record in three games against Washington. There are now just three major league teams Sale has not yet beaten in his career: the Marlins (0-2 in three games), the Cardinals (0-0 in two games) and the Braves (0-2 in two games).

Up next

Nationals left-hander Andrew Alvarez (1-1, 2.84 ERA) will face Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep (5-1, 3.04 ERA) on Tuesday.