Nationals slip past Braves in 11 innings
WASHINGTON -- Wilson Ramos hit an RBI single with the bases loaded and no outs in the 11th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 in a game that ended before a few hundred fans around 12:40 a.m. EDT on Thursday.
Washington's Danny Espinosa and Chris Heisey singled in the 10th before Anthony Rendon's infield hit tied the game at 4. Jace Peterson's single drove in Nick Markakis in the top of the 10th to give the Braves a 4-3 lead.
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg left the game in the third inning with an apparent injury, hours after he came off the disabled list after recovering from a right elbow soreness.
The winning pitcher was Mat Latos (1-0), who got one out in the 11th. Jed Bradley (1-1) was tagged with the loss after putting three runners on, but Brandon Cunniff served up Ramos' decisive hit.
Washington's Daniel Murphy had a two-run single in the seventh off reliever Ian Krol, a former National. That gave Murphy 100 RBIs this year, and he finished the night with three hits.
Dansby Swanson had two hits, including a homer, and Matt Kemp and Markakis each had three hits for the Braves.
Swanson hit a solo homer in the seventh off reliever Lucas Giolito to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. It was the second career homer for Swanson, who hit an inside-the-park homer Tuesday against the Nationals.
The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Tyler Flowers drove in a run with a fielder's choice against Giolito, who gave up two runs in 3 1/3 innings. Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz allowed one run and five hits in six innings.
Trea Turner, Ramos and Jayson Werth had two hits for the Nationals.
Atlanta's Ender Inciarte extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a single in the 11th.
The Nationals (82-57) are 8 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets in the National League East, while the Braves fell to 54-86.
Strasburg exited after he was credited for a strikeout when opposing pitcher Foltynewicz was called out when he bunted a ball foul for the third strike.
Strasburg was looked at by the trainer and got a pat on the stomach from manager Dusty Baker, who took Strasburg out of the game in favor of lefty Sean Burnett.
Strasburg was charged with one run on two hits with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings after Swanson scored on a double by Adonis Garcia later in the inning to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
NOTES: The game was delayed 57 minutes by the threat of rain and a light rain fell in the first inning ... On Roberto Clemente Day, Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman and Atlanta RHP Jim Johnson were named their team's nominees for the annual Roberto Clemente Award. ... The Nationals activated INF Stephen Drew (vertigo) from the 15-day disabled list prior to Wednesday's game. He went on the disabled list July 27. ... Washington begins a series at home Thursday with Philadelphia as RHP Alec Asher (0-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for the Phillies. The Nationals did not name a starter prior to Wednesday's game. ... The Braves are off Thursday and play Friday as RHP Julio Teheran (5-9, 3.01 ERA) goes against Mets RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1, 2.87 ERA) in New York.