Albies homer not enough as Braves fall

Braves rookie Ozzie Albies hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t enough, as the Nationals knocked off Atlanta, 5-2, on Thursday night at Nationals Park.

Albies’ shot to deep center sailed over the outstretched glove of Washington center fielder Michael Taylor and into the seats to pull the Braves within a run at 3-2. But the Braves couldn’t get a shutdown inning and Washington held on for the win.

Matt Wisler entered in the bottom of the sixth inning and got hit hard yet again. The Braves were hopeful that a permanent move to the bullpen would prove fruitful for Wisler, but that has yet to yield positive results.

Washington put runners on second and third in the sixth inning after singles by Adam Lind and Victor Robles. Johan Camargo’s throw on the Robles hit went astray, and allowed both runners to move up.

Adrian Sanchez followed by ripping a double down the left field line to give the Nationals a 5-2 edge.

After allowing the two runs, Wisler’s ERA has now risen to 8.60 on the season in over 30 innings of work.

Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz was pulled after just 73 pitches in four innings, to the bewilderment of many. Even though his spot in the lineup did not arise in the top of the fifth, Rio Ruiz had already assumed a position in the on-deck circle.

It was later announced that Foltynewicz left the game with a cut on his right middle finger. He gave up three runs on four hits in his four innings of work.

Tanner Roark picked up the win, hurling six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

It didn’t take Washington long to put a dent in the scoreboard. Trea Turner led off for the Nationals with a line drive rocket off the center field wall for a double. Jayson Werth singled to left to bring him home for the 1-0 edge.

Robles tripled home Lind in the fourth inning and Pedro Severino beat out a potential double-play ball to score Robles, as Washington took a 3-0 lead.

A pair of lefty relievers had solid outings for the Braves. Rex Brothers pitched a scoreless fifth inning, and Ian Krol allowed a single hit over the final two innings.

Aside from Albies, Matt Kemp, Kurt Suzuki, Camargo and Ruiz were the only Braves to register hits on the evening.

The Braves will finish the year with a 6-4 mark at Nationals Park, after combining for a putrid 1-19 record in the same ballpark over the last two seasons. They locked up the winning mark after taking the first two games of the current series.

Atlanta returns home on Friday to begin a three-game set against the Mets.