'Game-changer' Harris shows off power, arm

WASHINGTON -- Michael Harris II gave the Braves the lead over the Nationals on Thursday night with his bat and then helped them keep it with his arm.

Harris smacked a tiebreaking two-run homer to cap a 10-pitch at-bat and threw a runner out at the plate as Atlanta held on to defeat Washington, 5-4, at Nationals Park.

Dansby Swanson’s two-run homer gave the Braves an early lead, but the game was tied at 2 when Harris came to bat with a runner on third and two outs in the fifth.

The rookie center fielder fell behind in the count 1-2 against Aníbal Sánchez, who was making his first start in the Majors since 2020, and the battle began. Harris fouled off a changeup and took a fastball for ball two. After a foul ball, ball three and two more foul balls, Harris connected on a Sánchez fastball up and out of the strike zone for his eighth home run of the season.

“I knew he had already thrown everything except fastball up and in, so I was looking there dead red,” Harris said. “He gave it to me, and I turned on it.”

The homer to right-center made it 4-2, but Harris wasn’t finished.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, consecutive Washington singles put runners on first and second. Juan Soto then lined a single to left-center, but Harris fielded it on one bounce and fired home. The one-hopper was fielded by Travis d’Arnaud just in time to get a sliding Luis García.

“Unbelievable play in the outfield. My God,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s a game-changer obviously, but I didn’t think he had any chance. When he uncorked that thing, I was like, ‘Oh my Lord.’ It’s not like [García] can’t run either.”

Harris, who throws left-handed, was moving to his right and did not have time to set himself before the throw.

“I knew Soto hit it pretty hard, so I had a chance to get [García] at home,” Harris said. “I got it and threw it as soon as I could, and I guess the rest is history.”

Harris credited the catcher for his role in the play.

“I feel like Travis did a good job of dekeing him. He didn’t show him that the ball was coming,” Harris said. “[García] didn’t think I was throwing it. Travis did a good job of dekeing him and putting the tag on him.”

Braves starter Kyle Wright (11-4) retired Nelson Cruz to end the threat.

“When [Harris] came in, I said, ‘You must like me a lot,’ because he seems to make a lot of good plays for me,” Wright said. “Being behind home plate and watching that play happen was unbelievable, and I feel like it kind of got me going a little bit.”

The right-hander retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh before departing.

“I felt like from that [play] on, we kind of took over the game a little bit, so it was just a huge spark,” Wright said. “Obviously the homer before it was pretty good, too, but I’m a pitcher so I like the defense.”

Harris, who is hitting .284 as the All-Star break approaches, was hitless in his previous 10 at-bats before the home run.

“A credit to him that he puts yesterday behind him and focuses on today, and I hope he understands that he can help us win a game out of the batter's box,” Snitker said. “When he’s out there on the grass, he’s a difference-maker.”

Wright, who is tied for the Major League lead in victories, allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Matt Olson also homered for the Braves, who scored all of their runs on home runs for the fourth straight game.

Maikel Franco’s solo home run with one out in the ninth off Kenley Jansen cut the Braves’ lead to 5-4. After García singled with two outs, pinch-runner Victor Robles stole second, but Jansen fanned Josh Bell, who had homered earlier, to end it and earn his 21st save.

Jansen was making his second appearance since returning from a trip to the injured list due to an irregular heartbeat.

“He’s just got to get back in game shape. These last two days have been good for him to get out there,” Snitker said. “He’s got to get back where he’s got the adrenaline flow and he’s competing. He hung in there tonight and kept pitching.”