The Washington Nationals are struggling, suffering their seventh consecutive defeat after a 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a four-game series. This marks their longest losing streak since mid-July 2022, highlighting the team’s current challenges.
The Nationals aimed to break their slide through improved at-bats, and they initially appeared to be on the right track. CJ Abrams started the game with a leadoff home run, marking only the fifth time in their last 17 games that the Nationals scored first. This leadoff homer was Abrams’ 10th of his career, placing him second in Nationals history for leadoff homers.
Following Abrams’ early momentum, the Nationals extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning after James Wood drew a walk, leading to Amed Rosario’s RBI single. However, their performance faltered as the game progressed, with manager Davey Martinez expressing disappointment in the team’s inability to maintain their offensive pressure.
Pitcher Michael Soroka, in a night filled with emotion facing his former team for the first time, managed to hold the Braves scoreless for the first three innings but faced challenges in the fourth, ultimately leading to the end of his outing after only four innings due to a high pitch count. Martinez acknowledged the ups and downs of Soroka’s performance, noting the importance of managing his recovery after being reinstated from the injured list.
The Braves, however, capitalized on the Nationals’ missteps, tying the game in the fourth and gaining the lead shortly afterward. The Nationals’ defense faltered at critical moments, resulting in missed opportunities to make plays that could have stopped runs from scoring.
Despite the loss, there is a glimmer of hope as the team continues to show signs of potential. Players remain determined to turn their fortunes around, with Abrams stating, “We want to win. And we’re going to start tomorrow, playing together.” There is an understanding within the team that focusing on small details and working collectively could help them regain their footing in the coming games.
The Nationals now have the chance to regroup and refocus, with the hope of breaking the streak in their next matchup.