Battling Back, But Falling Short: Braves Lose Wild Extra-Inning Finale in D.C.

Tough day in Washington for Smith-Shawver

After Wednesday night’s rainout postponed game two, the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals returned to Nationals Park on Thursday night to wrap up their three-game series. Washington entered the finale leading the series 1-0 after a 5-3 win on Tuesday. On the mound for Atlanta was young right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, making a critical start as the Braves looked to avoid losing a NL East series. Opposing him for the Nationals was righty Trevor Williams.

Let’s dive into what turned out to be a rollercoaster ride in the nation’s capital tonight.

Fireworks Start Early

Things started off fast for the Braves. After two quick outs in the top of the first, Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna brought some thunder to Nationals Park with back-to-back solo home runs to opposite fields. It marked the second time on the road trip the power duo went back-to-back, the first coming in game two in Boston.

Atlanta took an early 2-0 lead, but Washington responded quickly.

Smith-Shawver Struggles in Second Inning

The Nationals chipped away in the bottom of the first when Keibert Ruiz doubled in a run to make it 2-1. But the big blow came in the second.

Smith-Shawver struggled mightily in the frame, allowing four runs on four hits. CJ Abrams drove in a run with a single, and highly-touted youngster James Wood delivered a bases-clearing double to right to make it 5-2 Nationals. It was an early punch to the gut for Atlanta.

The Braves offense went quietly in the top of the third, and though Smith-Shawver managed to keep Washington off the board in the bottom half despite an Alex Call triple, it was clear his outing was nearing its end.

Rally Time: Braves Tie It in the Fourth

Matt Olson got things going again in the fourth with a leadoff single. Ozuna walked, and with one out, Ozzie Albies drew another walk to load the bases. After Eli White struck out, Michael Harris II delivered a crucial infield single to score two runs. A Harris steal and a walk to Nick Allen reloaded the bases, prompting a Nationals pitching change.

Alex Verdugo then worked a bases-loaded walk off reliever Brad Lord to tie the game at 5-5. Austin Riley struck out to leave them loaded, but Atlanta had erased the three-run deficit.

Nationals Reclaim the Lead

Smith-Shawver began the bottom of the fourth with a walk to Abrams and two balls to Wood before manager Brian Snitker made a pitching change. Smith-Shawver’s night ended with a rough line:

3.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 82 pitches.

Aaron Bummer entered but allowed a go-ahead RBI single to Ruiz and another run on a fielder’s choice, giving the Nats a 7-5 lead. It was a frustrating sequence for a Braves bullpen that has been solid lately.

Trading Zeroes, Hanging Tough

The game settled down through the middle innings. Bummer, Enyel De Los Santos, and Pierce Johnson kept the Nationals from extending their lead, with Johnson escaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Meanwhile, Atlanta's bats cooled off again — a theme that has haunted this team constantly during the month of May.

In the top of the seventh, the Braves crept closer. Stuart Fairchild reached on a bunt single and advanced on a throwing error. Ozuna came through again with an RBI single to make it 7-6, but that would be the last run Atlanta could manage before the ninth.

Ninth-Inning Drama

Down to their last three outs, the Braves had one more push in them. Sean Murphy, pinch hitting for Nick Allen, singled to lead off the inning. After a bunt pop-out by Fairchild, Riley grounded into a fielder’s choice. Then Olson — already having a strong night — roped an RBI double to right, tying the game 7-7.

Luke Williams (running for Murphy) scored, but Riley was gunned down at the plate on the same play, cutting the rally short. Ozuna popped out to first, and the game headed to extras.

Extra Inning Heartbreak

Raisel Iglesias held the Nationals in check with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, thanks in part to two tremendous catches in center by Michael Harris II. The Braves started the tenth with Orlando Arcia on second. However, they couldn't capitalize. Albies reached on an infield single, but Eli White grounded into an inning-ending double play, leaving the go-ahead run stranded 90 feet away.

Dylan Lee came on for Atlanta in the bottom of the tenth, but a sac bunt moved the automatic runner to third, and Amed Rosario lined a walk-off single to left to seal an 8-7 win for the Nationals.

Postgame Notes & Sounds from the Clubhouse

Braves Player of the Game:

Matt Olson – 3-for-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI

Olson was the driving force of the Braves offense, delivering timely hits including the game-tying RBI double in the ninth.

Manager Brian Snitker:

“I love how we came back — we haven’t been doing that. Still looking for us to put all phases together.”

On Ronald Acuña Jr. returning and his spot in the lineup:

“He’ll be in his usual spot,” Snitker said laughing.

AJ Smith-Shawver:

“I just got to be better. Didn’t really give the team a chance to win tonight.”

 “Thought they did a good job with two strikes.” Smith-Shawver said on the Nationals hitting tonight against him. 

Game Analysis: What Went Wrong and What’s Next

This game felt like a rerun of the Braves’ recent struggles. The offense shows flashes of its explosive potential, but inconsistent starting pitching and bullpen continue to undercut efforts. Smith-Shawver, a promising young arm, simply couldn’t find a rhythm and fell behind early, putting stress on the bullpen for the rest of the game. It also could have been Smith-Shawver faced the Nationals last week, and the Nats just had his number this go around.

The Braves showed grit with multiple comebacks, including a ninth-inning rally — a promising sign for a team that has looked flat at times over the past few weeks. Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson continue to carry the offensive load, but too many quiet innings from the bottom half of the lineup left runners stranded in key moments.

Defensively, Atlanta was solid, and Harris II’s work in center field was Gold Glove-worthy. But the Braves failed to take advantage in extra innings, something they’ll need to sharpen as the summer months approach.

The loss drops Atlanta to 24-25, below .500 as they head back home. They’ll get a major boost with the return of Ronald Acuña Jr., who was a healthy scratch from Triple-A Gwinnett Thursday to prepare for his activation.

Up Next: Padres Come to Town

The Braves will look to rebound at home with a three-game weekend set against the San Diego Padres. Game one is set for Friday night at 7:15 p.m. at Truist Park. Acuña Jr. is expected to lead off and make his long awaited return to the Braves lineup.

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A pivotal series awaits as Atlanta tries to climb back into rhythm with its superstar back in action.