Nationals rally past Braves to end both teams' streaks

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Field Level Media
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Jun 11, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) singles against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park.
Jun 11, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) singles against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park.
Image: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Jeimer Candelario and Dominic Smith both homered during a five-run outburst in the sixth inning and helped the visiting Washington Nationals to a 6-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday to end their season-long six-game losing streak

Washington snapped Atlanta's seven-game winning streak and salvaged a game in their three-game set. Atlanta leads the season series 4-2.

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The decisive rally began when Joey Meneses drove in Luis Garcia with a single, extending his on-base streak to 18 straight games. Candelario followed with his eighth homer, which hit the top of the right-field wall and bounced out.

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After Keibert Ruiz singled, Atlanta inserted reliever Kirby Yates, who surrendered a 444-foot blast to Smith, his first since April 29 and second of the season.

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Atlanta's Bryce Elder entered the game as the league's ERA lead was knocked out in the sixth inning. Elder (4-1) allowed a season-high five runs on eight hits, one strikeout and one walk. Elder saw his ERA rise from 2.26 to 2.69.

Washington starter Trevor Williams (3-4) worked five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

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Williams escaped from a bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning without allowing a run, retiring Ronald Acuna Jr. on a grounder to end the threat. He worked around a two-out double in the fifth.

Carl Edwards Jr. pitched two scoreless innings and Kyle Finnegan worked a scoreless eighth. Hunter Harvey pitched a perfect ninth inning, despite taking a line drive off his leg from Michael Harris II.

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Atlanta grabbed a 2-0 lead in first inning on Matt Olson's 18th homer, a two-run shot that traveled 421 feet and landed on top of the Chop House restaurant in right field.

Washington cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth inning with a two-out rally capped by an RBI single from Ruiz.

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Atlanta begins a three-game series at Detroit on Monday. Washington travels to Houston to start a three-game series on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media