Trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning yesterday, the Washington Nationals got a leadoff walk from Juan Soto, a double by Josh Bell, which put runners on second and third with no one out, and an RBI single by Nelson Cruz, 4-3, but with Cruz on first base and Bell ninety feet from home at third, Luis García popped out to center, too shallow for a sac fly, and Keibert Ruiz and Yadiel Hernández K’d swinging to end the threat with the tying run on third and the visiting club in still a run behind Atlanta’s Braves.
Lane Thomas singled to start the ninth, and took third on a two-out single by Soto, but Bell’s groundout ended the second straight loss in Truist Park.