Gore and bullpen stymie Braves as Nats cruise

ATLANTA – Nationals pitching was once again dominant in Wednesday’s 7-2 win over the Braves at Truist Park.

Left-handed starter MacKenzie Gore delivered 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out 10. Gore did not walk a batter. It was the second time this season Gore tallied double-digit strikeouts and it’s the sixth time he’s done so in his career.

Right fielder Lane Thomas, who is in his third game back from an IL stint, had the big hit with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth, which proved to be the winner.

“The boys played well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “We had some good at-bats. We had some traffic all night. They played well, but MacKenzie was the guy who kept us in the game the whole night. He pitched really well. We always talk about [how] MacKenzie’s stuff is really good. They utilize the fastball but they’re also mixing in the breaking ball when they need to. They’re being effective.”

Gore improved to 4-4 on the year with a 2.91 ERA.

“I thought we went at guys and I thought offspeed was good,” Gore said. “I thought we had a good game plan and executed it well enough and got some strikeouts.”

Nationals (25-29) starters this series have covered 17 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on 13 hits. The staff has struck out 26 batters with just two walks. Five Washington pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts and no walks.

“We have to attack the strike zone,” Martinez said. “We can’t give free passes. Our starting pitching has been doing really well with that. It’s been a trickle effect with all these guys. They’re attacking the zone. They’re putting hitters in swing mode. It’s been good.”

Over the last seven games, Nationals pitchers have a 2.36 ERA (11 earned runs over 42 innings pitched) with 52 strikeouts and five walks.

Other than a two-spot that cost Washington the game on Tuesday, the Nationals’ bullpen has been equally effective against the Braves. In the series, Nationals relievers have covered nine innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

“[Dylan] Floro has been really good,” Martinez said. “[Hunter] Harvey and [Kyle] Finnegan, those two guys at the back end have been good. [Wednesday] we used [Jordan] Weems and he threw the ball well. It was good to see him throw in the upper-90s again. His [velocity] was a little down [in past appearances].”

Washington’s offense provided Gore with plenty of run support. The Nationals tallied 13 hits and, much like Monday, added on in the late innings. After Thomas’ three-run homer, Jacob Young added a two-run single in the top of the sixth and Keibert Ruiz tallied a two-run single in the top of the ninth.

The Nationals have outscored the Braves 15-8 in the series.

“When our starting pitcher is keeping us in a game like that, and we can score first, it seems like the games go fairly well,” Martinez said. “We needed to put the pressure on the other team. Tonight they scored first, but we kept grinding at-bats. When we score and we get the pitching that we’re getting, we’ll win some games.”

Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach, who made his MLB debut, was effective over the first four innings, keeping Washington off the scoreboard.

Schwellenbach’s third time through the Nationals’ order didn’t go as well as the first two. After Joey Gallo doubled to lead off the fifth and Jacob Young was hit by a pitch, Thomas hit a three-run home run that gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead they never relinquished.

“[Schwellenbach] had really good stuff,” Thomas said. “No one had seen him before. After the first time going through, some guys made some good adjustments. I just think it takes an inning like that to get something going. We got some big hits when we needed them.”

It wasn’t all good news for the Nationals as third baseman Nick Senzel left the game in the top of the second after fouling a pitch off his right knee.

“He says he feels a lot better,” Martinez said. “He got a little scared. He went to go plant [his leg] when he was at first base. He felt something. He buckled up a little bit. I wanted to get him checked out. Everything checked out negative. Hopefully he’s good to go [Thursday].”