Washington D.C. - After a rain delay this afternoon, the Washington National beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-8. The Nationals will have a day off on Monday and start the road trip with the first game on Tuesday in Detroit.

The Nationals are now 30 - 35, have a 13-17 record at home, and are one game under .500 for June (4-5). With the win, the Nationals are now 9-4 (.692) against the Atlanta Braves since September 24, 2023.

LHP DJ Herz had his second start of his MLB career and went 4.1 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, five strikeouts, and walked three. He got the no-decision this afternoon, as Jacob Barnes was credited for the win. RHP Hurston Waldrep, who got the start and made his MLB debut this afternoon, got credited for the loss. Herz pitched 87, 49 of them being strikes. He faced 20 batters this afternoon.

The Washington Nationals got seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. The seven runs scored in the bottom of the fourth were the most the Nationals have scored in an inning this season. It was also their most runs in an inning since they scored eight in the sixth against the Kansas Royals on May 26, 2023.

As part of the offense in the bottom of the fourth, catcher Kiebert Ruiz hit a three-run- home run, which was his fourth of the season. Ruiz went 1-for-3 with the homerun, four RBI (a season-high), and a run scored. Over his last sixteen games, Ruiz has gone 16-for-55 with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, and nine runs scored.

In the top of the second, Michael Harris II opened the game’s scoring with an RBI-single in the second inning, which snapped an 0-for-14. Harris II finished the day 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

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C.J. Abrams seems to be back, as he got a three-run double later in the fourth inning and went 1-for-5. Luis García Jr. also had a good day, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. García Jr. has now hit safely in seven of his last nine games. During this span, García Jr. is hitting .297 (11-for-37) with a double, an RBI, and five runs scored.

The Atlanta Braves brought things a bit close in the top of the ninth as Jordan Weem gave up three runs on three hits in the top of the ninth, and then RHP Kyle Finnegan was called in to get his 18th save of this season.

RHP Hurston Waldrep from the Atlanta Braves, who was making his MLB debut, looked in control until the Nationals tagged him with seven runs in the 3.2 innings he pitched.

On another note, Washington Commander’s QB Jaylen Daniels did throw out the first pitch for today’s game after a bit of a rain delay.

Next, the Nationals will get a well-deserved day off/travel day and kick off a road trip beginning in Detroit. LHP Mitchell Parker will get the start for the Nationals as he goes for his fifth win of the season. The Nationals will face RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2; 6.25 ERA).

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