ATLANTA — Cameron Maybin drove in the go-ahead run with a chopper against Max Scherzer that bounced over third base in the ninth inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco began the Atlanta ninth with an infield single, beating shortstop Danny Espinosa’s throw to stop a string of 10 in a row retired by Scherzer (9-6). He advanced to second on Jace Peterson’s sacrifice and scored on Maybin’s single.
Scherzer (9-6) allowed five hits and struck out nine in his third complete game in his last four starts. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA during the dominant stretch, including a no-hitter June 20 against Pittsburgh.
The Braves won their second straight to earn a rare series victory over NL East-leading Washington, which dropped to 9-3 against Atlanta this year.
Jason Grilli (3-3) pitched a perfect ninth for the win, including a swinging strikeout of Bryce Harper.
The Braves grabbed the lead in the fifth when Juan Uribe doubled and scored on Andrelton Simmons’ single. But the Nationals tied it in the seventh.
Harper led off with a double against David Aardsma, catching a break when Maybin ran hard and slid to his left before dropping the ball in center. Wilson Ramos followed with an RBI single.
Scherzer, the Nationals’ $210 million ace, retired his first seven batters before Eury Perez singled up the middle in the third.
Atlanta starter Manny Banuelos, making his major league debut, allowed two hits and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings before leaving with cramping and dehydration. The left-hander threw 48 of his 75 pitches for strikes.
Banuelos, acquired in the Jan. 1 trade that sent relievers David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve to the New York Yankees, went 6-2 with a 2.29 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Banuelos was tough on the Nationals after Ramos singled to begin the second, retiring 13 straight before hitting Denard Span and Danny Espinosa with two outs in the sixth.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski motioned to the dugout for manager Fredi Gonzalez to send a trainer to the mound. That ended the night for Banuelos. Nick Masset retired the only batter he faced when Escobar lined out on the first pitch.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Manager Matt Williams said 3B Anthony Rendon, on the disabled list since last Friday with strained left quadriceps, is hitting in the cage but not yet running. Rendon is not on the road trip. … 1B Ryan Zimmerman, on the DL since June 11 with a left plantar fasciitis, is hitting and take grounders, but doing only light running. … RHP Aaron Barrett, out since June 12 with a strained biceps, threw 16 pitches in one inning Wednesday with Single-A Potomac. Williams said his fastball hit 96 mph and that the pitcher felt no added soreness Thursday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.