The Washington Nationals are really not sure what they will get out of fill-in starter Erick Fedde on Tuesday against the first-place Atlanta Braves.
But lefty starter Patrick Corbin turned in an ace-like performance Monday and third baseman Anthony Rendon came up big yet again as he hit a grand slam to snap a 2-2 tie in the sixth as the Nationals whipped the Braves 6-3 before 24,292 fans at Nationals Park.
Washington (57-49) is now just 4 1/2 games back of the Braves (62-45) in the Nation League East after trailing by 10 earlier this year.
Before the game ace pitcher Max Scherzer was placed on the 10-day injured list with a mild rhomboid strain.
The injured list stint is retroactive to Friday, which means the earliest Scherzer could pitch for the Nationals would be Monday, Aug. 5.
It is the second time the 35-year-old Scherzer has been on the injured list this month.
“He is not a happy camper,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He wants to be out there competing.”
The Nationals have won six of the first 10 games against Atlanta this year. Washington is 30-20 against divisional foes, while the Braves are 26-18.
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first. Adam Eaton was hit by a pitch with one out and took second on a passed ball. He then scored on a single by Juan Soto.
Washington made it 2-0 in the second as Yan Gomes led with off with a walk and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Corbin.
Trea Turner then had an RBI double to drive in Gomes.
The Braves trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the fourth when Freddie Freeman singled with one out and scored on a throwing error by Washington third baseman Rendon.
Adam Duvall had a sacrifice fly to drive in Freeman in the sixth to tie the game at 2. The blast by Duvall was caught up against the fence in left by Soto in front of the Braves bullpen.
But Washington loaded the bases in the sixth before Rendon unloaded for his 23rd homer of the season and 125th of his career.
The starting pitcher will be Julio Teheran (5-7, 3.42) for Atlanta on Tuesday.
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