Williams and Nationals hold off Braves 3-1 for rare 4-game series win

ATLANTA (AP) — Trevor Williams combined with four relievers on five batters and Washington beat Atlanta 3-1 Thursday night for the Nationals’ first four-game series win over the Braves since 2016.

Williams (5-0) allowed just four hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings. It was the seventh start in his last eight outings where he did not allow more than one earned run. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.22.

The Nationals won three of four games for their first four-game series victory over Atlanta since Aug. 18-21, 2016 — the year before the Braves moved to Truist Park.

“It’s a big win,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “To come back from here with three wins in four games is pretty good.”

The Braves have won the season series against the Nationals in each of the last six years, overlapping Atlanta’s six years of NL East titles.

“We beat a very good team in Atlanta that is still in the fight,” Nationals first baseman Joey Meneses said through a translator. “It gives us confidence.”

Washington closer Kyle Finnegan walked Ozzie Albies to open the ninth. Albies stole second base, but Finnegan retired the next three batters for his 15th save.

Meneses gave Washington a 2-0 lead over Ray Kerr (1-2) with a double in two points in a three-run third inning.

Atlanta is 12-14 in May and has scored three points or fewer in 11 of the losses.

“You just hope that a two-out hit that someone gets will relax everyone,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “You get into the “trying too hard” mode.

The Nationals entered the game with 89 stolen bases, the most in the majors, and added three bases to that total in the third inning. Jesse Winker and Jacob Young each stole third base with Kerr on the mound – each time without making a throw.

“It’s our identity,” Martinez said of stolen bases. “We’re going to try to push the limits.”

Young and Lane Thomas scored on Meneses’ double, who was stranded on a fastball but managed to push the grounder past Matt Olson to first base. Winker added a double with a score.

Kerr, making his second career start, allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with a career-high seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander has allowed eight total runs in 7 2/3 innings in his two starts.

TRAINERS ROOM

Nationals: SS CJ Abrams, who had three strikeouts, stayed in the game after a swing and miss and grabbed his lower back in the ninth. … Young started after being hit by a pitch on his batting helmet Wednesday night.

The brave: Ronald Acuna Jr. said his surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee would be performed Tuesday in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also repaired Acuña’s right ACL in 2021. Acuña suffered the late injury season Sunday. … LHP AJ Minter (left hip inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list. RHP Jimmy Herget has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.

FOLLOWING

Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (1-5, 6.12) will start when Washington opens a three-game series in Cleveland Friday night against RHP Tanner Bibee (3-1, 3.99).

Braves: RHP Reynaldo López (2-2, 1.75), originally scheduled to start Thursday night, was given an extra day of rest and was postponed for Friday night’s game against Oakland LHP JP Sears (4- 3, 3.88). “We’re going to give the guys an extra day every chance we get,” Snitker said.

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