For the third time in three games in Atlanta’s Truist Park, Washington Nationals’ leadoff man César Hernández singled to lead off the top of the first in the finale this afternoon, and Juan Soto lined a single to right in the next at-bat, with both hits on mid-90s heaters, Hernández on a 95 MPH 0-2 fastball, and Soto on a 95 MPH first-pitch sinker from southpaw Max Fried.
A wild pitch moved Soto to second base with Nelson Cruz up, but the veteran slugger K’d swinging for the first out of the game, before Josh Bell sent an RBI grounder to short, 1-0, and 2-0 on a Maikel Franco liner to center field that brought Soto on from third base, 2-0.