Braves’ Bats Explode as They Pile Up Hits and Runs to Sweep Nationals

Deadspin | Braves pile up hits, runs to sweep Nationals

Sep 17, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) celebrates with Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) after their game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Matt Olson had three hits, including a home run, and the visiting Atlanta Braves rallied from a 3-0 deficit for a 9-4 win against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday to complete a four-game sweep.

Olson had three homers and nine RBIs in the series as Atlanta outscored Washington 31-10.

Marcell Ozuna had three hits and drove in three runs, and Ronald Acuna Jr. also had three hits each for the Braves (70-83), who totaled 16 hits on Wednesday and have won five straight.

Atlanta starter Hurston Waldrep (5-1) gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out eight without a walk.

James Wood, Luis Garcia Jr. and Dylan Crews had two hits each for the Nationals (62-91).

Washington starter Brad Lord gave up two runs on six hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings. He fanned four.

Waldrep retired the first 10 Nationals and 12 of the first 13, but he got into trouble in the fifth. Garcia doubled leading off and scored on a single by Crews, who stole second and scored on a double by Robert Hassell III. With two outs, Wood doubled, scoring Hassell to make it 3-0.

Atlanta immediately answered. With one out in the sixth, Acuna singled and then scored on Drake Baldwin’s double. Clayton Beeter (0-3) replaced Lord and walked Ozzie Albies and Ha-Seong Kim to load the bases. Michael Harris II struck out, but Ozuna singled to right, scoring Baldwin and Albies to tie it. Nacho Alvarez singled and Kim scored just before Ozuna was thrown out at third and Atlanta led 4-3.

The Nationals put runners on first and third with one out in the bottom half, but Daylen Lile was thrown out at home on an infield grounder and Riley Adams struck out.

Olson hit his 28th home run of the season with one out in the seventh to increase the lead to 5-3.

Ozuna doubled home Kim to give the Braves a 6-3 advantage in the eighth.

In the ninth, Albies hit a sacrifice fly and Kim added a two-run single to make it 9-3. Washington’s Brady House singled home Crews in the bottom half for the 9-4 final.

–Field Level Media