Nats beat Braves
ATLANTA — Aníbal Sánchez outpitched Mike Soroka and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, Matt Adams
homered and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Saturday night. Washington, second in the NL East, pulled within 5 1/2 games of the division-leading Braves and improved to 33-14 since May 24, best in the majors over that span. Atlanta has dropped four of its past five games. Sánchez (6-6) got a big assist in the bottom of the fifth when shortstop Trea Turner
turned a bases-loaded double play, leaping to nab a line drive by Nick Markakis and throwing to first to beat Josh Donaldson back to the bag. Soroka (10-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings. He had won 10 straight decisions, the best such run by an Atlanta pitcher since Hall of Famer Greg Maddux
had a 10-decision streak in 2001. Sean Doolittle got the last five outs, facing the minimum, for his 21st save in 25 chances this year. He struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. with a runner at second to end the eighth and breezed through the ninth.
MEDIA
› NEW YORK — ESPN has reminded employees of the network’s policy to avoid discussing politics after radio talk show host Dan Le Batard criticized President Donald Trump and ESPN on the air this past week. The reminder went out Friday to all employees, including Le Batard, according to an ESPN employee who spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about personnel matters. ESPN has not spoken publicly about Le Batard’s comments, including whether he faces any disciplinary action. Reached on Saturday, Le Batard also declined comment.
BASKETBALL
› ATLANTA — Former Tennessee assistant Mickie DeMoss has joined new Georgia Tech women’s basketball coach Nell Fortner as chief of staff. Fortner was hired on April 9 to replace MaChelle Joseph. The 63-year-old DeMoss brings 43 years of coaching experience to the Yellow Jackets. DeMoss served on Vanderbilt’s staff last season, working in offensive analytics, after stints as an assistant at LSU and Louisiana Tech, her alma mater. DeMoss was a Lady Volunteers assistant and associate head coach under Pat Summitt for 20 years, from 1985 to 2003 and 2010 to ‘12. She was Florida’s first full-time coach, holding that job from 1979 to ‘83, and was Kentucky’s coach from 2003 to ’07.
HORSE RACING
› OCEANPORT, N.J. — Maximum Security captured the $1 million Haskell Invitational and, unlike the Kentucky Derby, survived a steward’s inquiry Saturday night. It capped a long day that included a major delay triggered by intense heat and the resulting safety concerns for the horses and jockeys. It led to the cancellation of six races and the delay in six stakes, including the Haskell, the biggest race in Monmouth’s meet. When racing resumed around 6, the stakes went off without a hitch until the Haskell. Maximum Security got to the finish line first, outlasting trainer Bob Baffert’s Mucho Gusto by 1 1/4 lengths. For a minute, it seemed a clear-cut win in the Grade I race. However, the stewards posted the inquiry sign. Video replays showed King for a Day had to check when Maximum Security and Mucho Gusto stormed past. However, it was quickly dismissed, unlike the Kentucky Derby in early May, when there was a 22-minute delay before Country House was elevated to the top spot and Maximum Security was dropped to 17th.