ATLANTA (AP) — Mitchell Parker pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning and CJ Abrams homered, helping the Washington Nationals beat the depleted Atlanta Braves 8-4 on Monday.
Parker (4-2) allowed three runs, struck out six and walked none in 6 1/3 innings. He threw 100 pitches, 74 for strikes.
The rookie left-hander has permitted three runs or fewer in each of his first eight major league starts. A key to Parker’s success has been efficiency.
“Just a lot of early contact, a lot of ground balls,” Parker said. “Fielders were making a lot of plays and … just keeping the counts short, the pitch count down.