Fired-up Foltynewicz shuts down Nationals
Two-hitter pads first-place Braves’ lead
ATLANTA — Mike Foltynewicz had everything working so well that he was ready to keep pitching after the game ended.
Foltynewicz pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game, Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer in the seventh, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 4-0 on Friday.
“I’m just very energized still,” Foltynewicz said with a smile. “I feel I can go back and at least get one more. Great crowd. Great energy.”
Foltynewicz (5-3) retired 20 straight batters before issuing a leadoff walk in the eighth to outpitch Stephen Strasburg, who exited with cramping in his left wrist after 6 2/3 innings. Strasburg said he was not seriously injured.
The first-place Braves, winners of five of their past seven, moved 1½ games ahead of the Nationals in the National League East. Atlanta has scored an Nl-best 106 runs in the seventh inning or later this season.
A night after Sean Newcomb pitched seven strong innings to snap Washington’s six-game win streak, Foltynewicz improved to 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA in his past five starts. He struck out 11 and walked one, throwing 73 of 106 pitches for strikes.
Foltynewicz allowed a second-inning single to Bryce Harper and then set down 20 straight Nationals before Juan Soto walked in the eighth. He closed it in the ninth by striking out pinch hitter Michael Taylor, getting Wilmer Difo to ground out, allowing a single to Trea Turner and striking out Harper.
The Braves got all the runs they needed with four in the seventh off Strasburg (6-5).
Nick Markakis singled, advanced to third on Kurt Suzuki’s single and scored when first baseman Matt Adams booted Johan Camargo’s grounder. Adams was trying to field the ball and throw out Markakis at the plate when the ball bounced off his glove and Adams inadvertently kicked it.
With runners on first and second and no out, Strasburg struck out Preston Tucker before Swanson hit his fourth homer into the left-field seats.
Strasburg allowed seven hits and four runs — three earned. He struck out 10, the 39th time he’s racked up double-digit strikeouts and the third this year.