Albies, Donaldson back Keuchel in another Braves win
♦ The streaking Atlanta Braves win their eighth straight game.
ATLANTA — Dallas Keuchel pitched six scoreless innings, Ozzie Albies and Josh Donaldson homered, and the streaking Atlanta Braves picked up another division win over the Washington Nationals with a 4-3 victory on Friday night.
The NL East-leading Braves have won eight in a row, 19 of 23 overall and 12 consecutive at home, dropping Washington nine games back. It was Atlanta’s fourth straight victory and eighth in 11 tries over the Nationals.
Keuchel (7-5) allowed six hits and two walks and struck out three to win his fourth straight start. He protected a 2-0 lead in the sixth by striking out slugger Juan Soto with a runner on first, and getting Yan Gomes to ground out with runners on the corners.
Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (11-7) walked a season-high six, issuing three consecutive passes before striking out Dansby Swanson, his last batter, to end the fifth. Corbin gave up three hits and two runs — one earned — with nine strikeouts.
Washington, which began the fourgame series badly needing to make up ground in the division, has lost four of five for the first time since July 30-Aug. 4.
The Braves tacked on runs with Albies’ 20th homer in the third and Tyler Flowers’ sacrifice fly RBI in the fourth.
Donaldson, the self-proclaimed Bringer of Rain, broke out another umbrella celebration in the dugout after going deep for the 35th time, a two-run shot that made it 4-0 in the seventh.
Luke Jackson allowed Ryan Zimmerman’s fifth homer, a three-run shot that cut the lead to 4-3 in the eighth. Shane Greene earned his first save in three tries with Atlanta and 23rd overall after facing the minimum with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Trainer’s room
Nationals: RHP Joe Ross tweaked his forearm during a bullpen session this week and has been scratched from Saturday’s start . ... LHP Roenis Elías still has too much swelling to undergo an MRI on his right hamstring. Elías was injured Thursday . ... INF Adrían Sanchez has a virus and was sent back to the team hotel to rest.
Braves: RF Austin Riley was recalled from an injury -rehab assignment and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout. He had been sidelined since Aug. 5 with a right knee sprain.