The Washington Nationals needed a victory Saturday in their four-game series at the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves, and they got a strong showing from shortstop Trea Turner to get a 5-3 victory and a chance to win the series entering Sunday. Turner went 2-for-5 with a double and scored twice to take a 2-1 series lead, raising his average lifetime against the Braves to .348 in 58 career games as Washington pulled within 5 ½ games of the East lead.
Turner had plenty of help at the top of the lineup, as he teamed with No. 2 hitter and Adam Eaton to go 5-for-10 with three runs scored and two RBIs for Washington, which improved to a big-league best 33-14 since May 24 and won for the 15th time in its past 20 games. The Braves had plenty of chances to score more but finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base, dropping to 9-6 in July and losing for the fourth time in their past five games. Center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first Atlanta player since Jason Heyward in 2012 to reach 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season, extending his on-base streak to 26 games by going 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Catcher Brian McCann homered and drove in two runs while going 3-for-4 to raise his average to .279 on the season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Joe Ross (0-1, 11.05 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kevin Gausman (2-5, 6.21)
Washington would love for Max Scherzer to return from the injured list and take his turn in the rotation, but the ace remains sidelined with an inflamed bursa sac below his right shoulder. With Austin Voth experiencing tenderness in his shoulder after a bullpen session Thursday, the Nationals turn to Ross, who they flew in from Triple-A Fresno Saturday in case they needed him for the series finale. Ross made 48 career starts for the Nationals from 2015-18 - all 17 of his appearances this season have come out of the bullpen – and is 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in eight starts in the minors this season.
Gausman suffered through an inconsistent first two months before landing on the injured list with right plantar fasciitis, giving up 19 runs on 25 hits in 8 1/3 innings across his final three starts. The 28-year-old, who pitched to a 2.87 ERA in 10 starts after being acquired from Baltimore at last season’s trade deadline to help the Braves win the NL East, allowed four runs or more in seven of his 13 big-league starts this season. Results during his injury rehab assignment have been encouraging for Gausman, who gave up one unearned run in six innings at Double-A Mississippi on July 11 and struck out 10 over seven innings for Triple-A Gwinnett.
WALK-OFFS1. The Braves stole a season-high five bases Saturday, including two from Acuna, who has seven steals while recording at least one in his past five games.
2. The Nationals have won five of their past six games in Atlanta dating to last season and lead the season series 5-3. The rivals meet again for a three-game set in Washington at the end of the month.
3. Atlanta LHP A.J. Minter walked two and gave up one run on two hits in one-third of an inning Saturday. In his past seven games, has allowed seven runs on nine hits with six walks.