Donaldson’s walk-off lifts Braves past Nats
ATLANTA — Josh Donaldson’s bases-loaded single off Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning lifted the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Friday night after Luke Jackson allowed a tying, two-run homer to Victor Robles in the top half.
Ronald Acuña Jr., who had three hits, led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk off Rodney (0-3) and took second on Dansby Swanson’s single. Freddie Freeman walked on four pitches, loading the bases.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez brought in left fielder Juan Soto as a fifth infielder, including three on the left side against the right-handed hitting Donaldson.
Donaldson hit a 2-0 pitch over Robles to the center-field warning track, and the Braves boosted their NL East lead to 6 1/2 games over the second-place Nationals. Atlanta had lost its previous five home games against Washington.
Robles’ homer went 446 feet to left, giving Jackson his seventh blown save in 24 chances.
Julio Teheran gave up one hit through five scoreless innings and retired 14 consecutive hitters before pinch-hitter Gerardo Parra singled with one out in the sixth. Anthony Rendon chased Teheran with a twoout RBI single.
Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin couldn’t win on his 30th birthday while paired with catcher Yan Gomes, who turned 32. Corbin and Gomes became only the second pitcher-catcher tandem to start together on their birthdays since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Chicago Cubs pitcher Dave Hillman and catcher Jim Fanning did it against Pittsburgh on Sept. 14, 1957.
Corbin allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out Ozzie Albies with the bases loaded in the first and fanned Albies to end the fifth with two out.
Albies hit a two-out double in the fourth and scored on Austin Riley’s double. Freeman was 2-for-20 in his career against Corbin before his RBI single in the fifth.
Acuña’s RBI double against Tanner Rainey gave the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Bullpen help
The Braves recalled Patrick Weigel and Wes Parsons to join the bullpen before Friday’s game.
They replace Kyle Wright and Touki Toussaint.
Weigel, 25, will make his major league debut when he appears. Coming off Tommy John surgery, the righty has a 3.43 ERA in 11 games with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Despite striking out 36, Weigel issued 24 walks through 44 2/3 innings in Gwinnett.