Five takeaways from the Braves’ 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on Wednesday night:
1. Nationals star Juan Soto’s long two-out solo home run off Braves reliever Richard Rodriguez in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and put the Nats ahead for good in a game that cost the Braves a chance to increase their lead in the National League East.
With the division’s three contenders all losing on Wednesday night, the Braves maintained a 2-1/2-game lead over the Phillies and a four-game lead over the Mets.
2. Nationals starting pitcher Sean Nolin was ejected by home-plate umpire Lance Barksdale after throwing two first-inning fastballs at Braves star Freddie Freeman -- the first one sailing high behind Freeman, missing him, and the next one drilling him in the hip.
“I just didn’t like the fact that it was two times,” Freeman said. “You can’t do two. You got one chance, you’ve got to hit me. ... When you miss the first time, that’s your one chance. That’s all you get.”
Manager Brian Snitker agreed, saying: “I think the umpire made the right call. You can’t throw at a guy twice. ... You can’t just expect a guy to sit up there and take it multiple times.”
The incident was apparent retaliation for Braves closer Will Smith hitting Soto in the ninth inning the night before. Smith and Soto have a history of tension, dating to last season.
Freeman and Soto crossed paths at the end of Wednesday’s first inning, put their arms around each other’s backs and talked. Freeman also found his way over to the visitor’s dugout for a chat with Nationals manager Dave Martinez. The game proceeded without further incident.
Freeman said he relayed to Soto and Martinez that Smith “had told us that it wasn’t on purpose” when he hit Soto. Freeman also told Soto, “I respect your game.”
“He’s one of the best young hitters in this game, and unfortunately I have to see it 19 times a year,” Freeman said. “I think we both understand how the game works. ... Everything was positive that came out of that (conversation), so I think we can move on from here.”
Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@
Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@
3. The game ended with Freeman at the plate with two outs in the ninth and a runner on first base. He lined out to left field against the sixth Nationals reliever.
“I’m more frustrated right now, not because I got hit by a pitch, that I lined out with a chance to tie the game hitting a home run there,” Freeman said.
The Washington bullpen held the Braves to two runs on five hits across 8-2/3 innings.
4. Braves starter Touki Toussaint struggled, throwing 62 pitches -- only 29 strikes -- to retire nine batters. He exited with no outs in the fourth inning, the Braves trailing 2-0. He walked four.
“Command wasn’t there,” Toussaint said. “I think it’s a mechanical issue that I’m trying to ... fix and get back on track.”
5. Adam Duvall hit his 33rd home run of the season, a solo blast in the fourth inning, to match his career high. He ranks second in the NL in homers and first in RBIs (98). He has 11 homers since the Braves reacquired him from Miami on July 30.
Another solo homer, by another outfielder the Braves acquired at the trade deadline, Eddie Rosario, tied the game 2-2 in the sixth inning.
Quotable
“(Touki Toussaint’s) command was not good. There were big misses. I thought we were very fortunate in the seventh inning to be tied 2 to 2.” -- Brian Snitker
The numbers game
13: Walks issued in the game, eight by Braves pitchers and five by Nationals pitchers
Next game
In the final Braves-Nationals game of the season Thursday night at Truist Park, the pitching matchup will be right-hander Huascar Ynoa (4-5, 3.19 ERA) for the Braves versus right-hander Erick Fedde (6-9, 5.27) for the Nats.
