Johan Camargo delivered a two-run, pinch-hit homer in the 10th inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 Sunday to win their fifth straight series.
Overcoming an injury to standout rookie starting pitcher Mike Soroka, the Braves used the long ball and their bullpen to win the deciding matchup of a three-game set between NL East rivals.
Camargo connected in the 10th off Tanner Rainey (1-2) after Ozzie Albies drew a one-out walk, and Atlanta held on for its seventh victory in 10 extra-inning games this season.
Josh Donaldson and Ronald Acuña Jr. also went deep for the first-place Braves.
Juan Soto homered for the Nationals, who have lost two in a row following a five-game win streak.
Unbeaten since April 18 and sporting an 8-1 record, Soroka threw two scoreless innings before being struck in the right arm by a pitch from Austin Voth in the third. Soroka was removed before the bottom half as a “precaution,” according to the team.
The 21-year-old Soroka allowed one hit, faced the minimum six batters and lowered his ERA to 2.07.
Josh Tomlin replaced Soroka and pitched four innings of one-hit ball. He left with a 2-0 lead, which quickly dissipated in the seventh when Soto homered off Grant Dayton and Gerado Parra followed with an RBI single off Jacob Webb.
But that didn’t mar an otherwise top-notch performance by six Atlanta relievers. A.J. Minter (2-4) worked the ninth and Luke Jackson earned his 11th save despite giving up a run, two hits and a walk.
START ME UP
Recalled from Double-A Harrisburg before the game, Voth gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. In his third career start, the rookie notched seven strikeouts.
STREAK ENDS
For the first time since June 12, Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman failed to drive in a run. His streak of 10 straight games with an RBI matched the franchise record set by Sid Gordon in August 1951.
ROSTER MOVES
Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (2-5, 6.37 ERA) was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnet and RHP Chad Sobotka was recalled from the same club. After giving up eight runs in four innings on Saturday, Foltynewicz - a 2018 NL All-Star - said, “It’s just frustrating. I have a 7.00 ERA on a first-place team.” Pitching coach Rick Kranitz said, “He’s an All-Star, and he has great stuff. He just needs to go down, clear his head and relax and start making pitches.”
Nationals: Reliever Trevor Rosenthal was released after compiling a 22.74 ERA and allowing 15 walks in 6 1/3 innings. Washington also recalled righty Kyle McGowin from Triple-A Fresno and optioned right-hander Joe Ross to the same minor league club.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: OF Victor Robles wasn’t in the starting lineup but pinch hit in the sixth innings after leaving Saturday’s game due to dehydration. Describing his symptoms from the night before, Robles said, “I had a real bad headache and felt some dizziness, and I felt like I had some blurred vision at the same time.”
UP NEXT
Braves: Julio Teheran (5-5, 3.40 ERA) faces the Cubs on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field.
Nationals: After taking Monday off, Washington launches a six-game road trip by sending ace Max Scherzer (6-5, 2.62) to the mound against the Miami Marlins.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Please read our comment policy before commenting.