Braves ring up sixth straight win with big inning vs. Nationals

Field Level Media|published: Mon 20th April, 21:32 2026

Apr 20, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Mike Yastrzemski (18) and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) celebrate after scoring runs against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Matt Olson hit a two-run home run, Bryce Elder pitched into the seventh inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the host Washington Nationals 9-4 Monday night for their sixth straight win.

Drake Baldwin had two hits, drove in two runs and scored twice for Atlanta.

Elder (3-1) pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits. He struck out six.

Daylen Lile homered for the Nationals, who were held to three hits and fell to 2-8 at home.

Jake Irvin (1-3) allowed four runs (three earned) in five-plus innings.

Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. left the game in the sixth inning after being hit by an Irvin pitch for the second time. X-rays on Acuna's left hand came back negative and the Braves said he is day-to-day.

The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to some patient at-bats. With two outs, Brady House singled and CJ Abrams and Lile worked walks to load the bases. Jacob Young lined a single to right, driving in House and Abrams.

Atlanta tied it in the fourth. Acuna was hit by a pitch leading off but was picked off first base. Baldwin singled and Olson homered to center to tie it.

Lile homered leading off the bottom half to make it 3-2.

The Braves took control with a five-run sixth. Mike Yastrzemski reached on a throwing error by Nasim Nunez. Acuna took his second HBP, and Irvin was lifted in favor of PJ Poulin. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored when Baldwin doubled to left.

Austin Riley walked with one out and Brad Lord replaced Poulin. Ozzie Albies singled home Baldwin to make it 5-3, and Michael Harris II singled home Riley. Dominic Smith grounded back to the mound, but the Nationals could not turn two and another run scored to make it 7-3.

The Nationals got one back in their half when Abrams was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored when Young reached on third baseman Riley's throwing error.

The Braves added two in the ninth on an RBI bunt single by Eli White and a sacrifice fly by Olson.

--Field Level Media