Atlanta Braves slug their way to 12th straight victory

Home runs and good pitching from the bullpen helped the Atlanta Braves defeat the Washington Nationals Monday night.

The Atlanta Braves kept their winning streak alive on Monday, as they defeated the Washington Nationals by a score of 9-5. The game was initially delayed due to weather, and the Nationals decided to scratch their scheduled starter Josiah Gray as a result. Veteran Erasmo Ramirez got the nod to face off against Ian Anderson.

Travis d’Arnaud got the scoring started when he hit a solo home run to left field to lead off the second inning. He and William Contreras have combined for 16 home runs and 42 RBIs this year.

Marcell Ozuna and Adam Duvall would reach base later in the second and were driven home on a single by Dansby Swanson.

In the third inning, Ozuna would hit a long two-run homer, scoring himself and Ozzie Albies. Duvall hit a solo shot in the next at-bat to give Atlanta a 6-0 lead. Over his last seven games, Duvall is hitting .333 with four home runs and seven RBIs.

The Braves were dealt a massive blow in the top of the fifth inning. Ozzie Albies made an awkward swing on a 3-2 count and fell to the ground before limping back to the dugout. It was later reported by the Braves that he had suffered a fractured foot. Orlando Arcia replaced Albies for the rest of the game.

Ian Anderson was solid through four innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. After allowing four straight men to reach base and a run by Luis Garcia, Brian Snitker went to his bullpen and brought in Dylan Lee to put out the fire. Two runs would score, but the Braves left the inning with the lead still intact.

The Braves would get two runs back in the top of the sixth when Dansby Swanson hit a two-run bomb to center field, giving Atlanta an 8-4 lead.

Lane Thomas would homer off of Dylan Lee in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fun fact about that home run courtesy of Ben Ingram of the Braves Radio Network: that was the first Washington home run at home against the Braves since Trae Turner homered off of Josh Tomlin back in May 2021.

The Braves weren’t done hitting homers yet, as Michael Harris II hit a ball to the Atlanta bullpen for the first home run of his young career.

Darren O’Day, Jesse Chavez, and Will Smith closed out the game for the Braves to give the team a 9-5 win and their 12th victory in a row.

Although the Braves continued their winning ways, everyone’s attention is on Ozzie Albies. It has not been announced how long he will be out of action. It will also be interesting to see what moves Alex Anthopoulos might make to replace Ozzie’s production in the lineup.

Here’s to a speedy and quick recovery to Ozzie, and for the Braves to make it 13 straight wins tomorrow night.