Nationals hold off rally to earn split

The Braves won the first game of a doubleheader 7-1 Friday afternoon but dropped the nightcap 10-9 as the Nationals halted a seven-game losing streak.

The details

Freddie Freeman hit his first career grand slam, a shot in the fourth inning that tied it at 7 after the Braves trailed early. The Nationals scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh. They needed all three as Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run homer in the seventh, but the rally fell a run short.

At the plate

Freeman was the only Braves player with multiple hits with two. Ronald Acuna homered in the second inning, capping a three home run day in his return to the lineup. Austin Riley also homered giving the Braves four in the nightcap.

On the mound

In a switch, the Braves started Huascar Ynoa, who gave up five hits and six earned runs in 2⅓ innings. Will Smith took the loss after surrendering a Trea Turner home run in the sixth. Utilityman Charlie Culberson recorded the final out when Patrick Weigel, making his major league debut, allowed two runs in the seventh.

Notable

■ Freeman extended his hitting streak to 18 games. It’s the third-longest run of his career behind a 20-game streak in 2011 and 30-game streak in 2016.

■ Freeman’s first grand slam came in his 105th at-bat with the bases loaded.

■ The Nationals played without Juan Soto, who missed both games of the doubleheader with left elbow soreness.

Quotable

“It’s just hard to believe he’s never hit a grand slam as elite a hitter as he is. He’s gotten a lot of bases-loaded hits, but it’s mind-boggling that he’s never hit a grand slam, a guy like that.”

— Manager Brian Snitker on Freeman

Next

The Braves and Nationals were slated to continue their series Saturday night. It’s part of a stretch where the Braves play the Nationals eight out of 11 games.