ATLANTA – Lane Thomas hit a three-run home run and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 7-2 on Wednesday night, spoiling Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach’s major league debut.
Schwellenbach (0-1), who had never pitched above Double-A, lasted five innings, giving up three runs and five hits with five strikeouts, one walk and one batter.
After a leadoff double in the fifth, Schwellenbach hit Jacob Young in the head with a fastball as the No. 9 hitter stepped up to bunt. Young fell face down at the base and Schwellenbach immediately placed both hands on his head and walked toward the base.
“I felt bad for (Young), I felt bad for (Schwellenbach),” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He didn’t want to do it, but it seems to have worked out.”
Young was down for a minute but remained in the game. Two batters later, Thomas scored to give Washington a 3-1 lead. An inning later, Young hit a two-out, two-run single to increase the lead to 5-2. Kelbert Ruiz capped the Nationals’ scoring with a two-run single in the ninth that a Michael Harris slide failed to deliver.
“That was scary, for sure,” Schwellenbach said. “Obviously very happy that he stayed in the game and that there was nothing wrong with him. (Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz) came and talked to me, just calmed me down and that helped for sure. get back there and keep going.”
MacKenzie Gore (4-4) picked up the win for the Nats, who had won two of the first three games of the four-game series. Gore pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits. He had 10 strikeouts and no walks.
“I thought my speed was good and we had a good game plan and we executed it and got some kills,” Gore said.
Thomas was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two steals and two runs, and Young was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Ruiz went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Joey Gallo had two hits. The Nationals tied a season-high with five stolen bases.
Dylan Floro, Robert Garcia, Hunter Henry and Jordan Weems did not allow an out from the bullpen for more than 3 2/3 innings. National pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.
The Nats stranded four runners in the first four innings before Thomas’ home run.
“We kept saying we have traffic, someone is getting ready to run,” Martinez said. “It was a big problem for us. After that, it seemed like everyone opened up and had good at-bats.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: Third baseman Nick Senzel left the game in the second inning after catching a ball to his right knee. Senzel finished the hit and walked, but while still at first base, he clocked out and left the game. Ildemaro Vargas’s python ran and stayed in the game at third base. Martinez said he should get a chance to play on Thursday.
MOVEMENTS
Braves: To make room for Schwellenbach, the Braves sent RHP Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Gwinnett. He threw three scoreless innings in two starts last week.
NEXT
Braves LHP Ray Kerr (1-1, 5.40) was set to start the series finale Thursday night against Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (4-0, 2.29).
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