Atlanta Braves’ Alex Verdugo hits a game-winning single in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
by Brady Penn
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have run into a recurring roadblock this season: the elusive .500 mark.
For the fourth time in 2025, the Braves had an opportunity to reach .500 with a win — and for the fourth time, they fell short, losing 4-3 in walk-off fashion to the Pirates on Sunday. But with a new series at home, Atlanta started fresh Monday night against the Washington Nationals and took a step in the right direction.
Behind a strong outing from right-hander Grant Holmes and a walk-off single from Alex Verdugo, the Braves outlasted the Nationals 4-3 at Truist Park in the opener of a four-game set.
Holmes, making his second start of the season, was sharp. He tossed 6 1/3 innings on just 79 pitches, allowing just one run before giving way to Dylan Lee.
The defense backed him up in a big way. Michael Harris II made a highlight-reel catch in center field to end the fourth inning, while the infield turned several slick plays to keep the Nationals off balance.
Offensively, the Braves made solid contact all night, tagging Washington starter Jake Irvin with 15 batted balls at 97 mph or harder. They plated three runs across six innings against Irvin while swinging and missing just twice.
Marcell Ozuna extended Atlanta’s lead with a towering 464-foot home run to left in the sixth, giving the Braves a 3-1 advantage. But the Nationals threatened late.
In the eighth, Daysbel Hernandez, who had allowed just one run at home all year, surrendered a double and hit a batter to put the tying run aboard with no outs. He settled in, inducing a 4-6-3 double play from C.J. Abrams and striking out James Wood, who had earlier homered for his 11th of the season.
Raisel Iglesias, who took the loss Sunday, came on in the ninth to close it out. After a one-out single from Keibert Ruiz and another from Luis Garcia, Iglesias found himself in trouble. Josh Bell grounded into a fielder’s choice, bringing up Dylan Crews with two outs.
Crews, batting just .180, hit a bouncer to shortstop Nick Allen. But Allen’s throw sailed wide of first base, allowing the tying run to score. Iglesias then walked the next batter but escaped with a strikeout to keep the game tied.
Afterward, manager Brian Snitker stood by his closer.
“Life of a closer, man,” Snitker said. “Those guys are wired differently, they want the ball right there. If I’m not mistaken, he struggled a bit early last year… then he had the year that he had, which was unbelievable.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Eli White led off with a sharp single past second baseman Nasim Nuñez. Allen laid down a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Verdugo.
Facing lefty Andrew Chafin, Verdugo battled through an eight-pitch at-bat and ripped a walk-off single into center to secure the win for Atlanta.
The Braves (currently 1-3 in games where a win would bring them to .500) have now alternated wins and losses over their last seven games — each decided by just one run.
They’ll have another shot at .500 on Tuesday, when Spencer Schwellenbach takes the mound in Game 2 of the series.
Comments