Sandoval’s pinch blast caps sweep by Atlanta
WASHINGTON — Atlanta pinch hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of Nationals Park off a reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 win over Washington and a doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, Ronald Acuna Jr. had a double and two singles to help Atlanta snap a season-starting four-game skid by edging the Nationals 7-6.
Sandoval signed a minor league contract in January that became a one-year, $1 million deal when he made the Braves’ 40-man roster. The 34-year-old affectionately known as Kung Fu Panda looks like a bargain, after driving a 96-mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) more than 400 feet following Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning.
Strasburg hadn’t pitched in a regular-season game since being shut down in August and having carpal tunnel surgery on his right wrist. He blanked the Braves on one hit and two walks while striking out eight.
■ Twins 3, Tigers 2: At Detroit, Jorge Polanco hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth for Minnesota, which threw out two runners at home in the bottom of the inning.
■ Rockies 8, Diamondbacks 0: At Denver, Chris Owings had a triple, two doubles and two RBIS to back Antonio Senzatela (1-1), who pitched eight shutout innings.
■ Orioles 4, Yankees 3: At New York, Anthony Santander homered in the fifth and ended the game by throwing out Gio Urshela at home from right field in the 11th.
■ Reds 11, Pirates 4: At Cincinnati, Tyler Naquin’s second straight leadoff home run was one of four long balls hit by Cincinnati in its fifth straight win.
■ Red Sox 9, Rays 2: At Boston, J.D. Martinez’s two-run double in Boston’s six-run fifth marked his seventh straight game with an extra-base hit.
■ Rangers 2, Blue Jays 1:
At Arlington, Texas, Kyle Gibson (1-0) struck out eight in six shutout innings to outduel Hyun Jin Ryu (0-1).
■ Indians 4, Royals 2: At Cleveland, Jose Ramirez hit two two-run homers to back Shane Bieber, who struck out 12 in 61/3 innings.
■ Cardinals 7, Marlins 0: At Miami, Dylan Carlson hit a grand slam to back Jack Flaherty
(1-0), who allowed one hit in six innings.
■ Giants 3, Padres 2: At San Diego, Alex Dickerson scored on Donovan Solano’s sacrifice fly in the 10th for San Francisco.
■ Mariners 8, White Sox 4: At Seattle, Kyle Seager slapped an opposite-field three-run double in Seattle’s seven-run sixth.
■ Brewers 4, Cubs 2: At Chicago, Lorenzo Cain hit a solo home run in the eighth and a three-run shot in the 10th.
■ Athletics 4, Dodgers 3: At Oakland, Calif., Mitch Moreland hit a one-out walk-off RBI single in the 10th.
■ Phillies 8, Mets 2: At Philadelphia, Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto each hit a three-run homer.