Murphy’s RBI single lifts Nats over Braves in 10th

WASHINGTON — Daniel Murphy’s one-out RBI single in the 10th inning capped the Washington Nationals’ 5-4 comeback victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Adrian Sanchez led off the 10th against Ian Krol (1-2) with his first major league hit and two batters later moved to third on Ryan Zimmerman’s single. Murphy then lofted an opposite-field single over left fielder Matt Kemp’s head to win it for Washington.

Matt Albers (5-1) induced Kemp’s double play grounder to end the 10th to help the Nationals escape a twoon jam.

Washington extended its lead in the National League East to 91/2 games over Atlanta.

Trailing 4-1 and facing Braves closer Jim Johnson, the Nationals opened the ninth with a single by Bryce Harper and a walk to Zimmerman. Murphy’s single to right scored a run, and Anthony Rendon then lofted an RBI single to right.

An out later and with Matt Wieters at bat, Atlanta Manager Brian Snitker was ejected for arguing a checked swing. It was his third ejection of the season.

Wieters hit a sacrifice fly to score Zimmerman, and shortstop Wilmer Difo then singled in Murphy to tie it. It was Johnson’s seventh blown save of the season.

Atlanta starter R.A. Dickey retired his first 10 hitters and took a no-hitter into the sixth before shortstop Stephen Drew broke it up with a leadoff double. The knuckleballer gave up 1 run and 3 hits while striking out 7 in 7 innings. In 4 starts since yielding 8

runs in 5 innings on June 13 during a loss at Washington, he is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 27 innings.

Washington’s Max Scherzer set down the first 9 batters he faced and struck out 10 over 72/3 innings while allowing 4 runs.