Riley gets to Strasburg early (Nats win 4-3)

The Braves got on the board early against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg.

Josh Donaldson walked to lead off the second inning. With one out, Austin Riley belted a two-run homer over the left-center field to give Atlanta the lead. Riley connected on a 93.6 mph two-seam fastball for his 12th homer of the season.

Braves left-hander Dallas Keuchel, making his 2019 debut, allowed leadoff singles to Trea Turner and Brian Dozier in the first and second innings, respectively, but no runs.

Freddie Freeman connected on a run-scoring double to score Dansby Swanson in the top of the third inning. Freeman now has at least one RBI in nine straight games, tying an Atlanta record.

Juan Soto doubled in the third inning with one out. But Keuchel induced infield grounders by Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick to end the inning.

After three innings, the Braves lead 3-0.

Update: In the fourth inning, Brian Dozier reached first base on a throwing error by Ozzie Albies. The throw went into the Nats dugout allowing Dozier to get into scoring position. Victor Robles followed with an RBI triple to the right-center field wall. The Braves led 3-1.

Michael A. Taylor bunted toward third base to score Robles. The Braves led 3-2.

Yan Gomes absolutely crushed a 0-1 Keuchel offering deep into the left center field stands to tie the game. His third homer of the season traveled 447 feet according to @MLBBarrelalert.

After four innings, the Nats and the are Braves tied 3-3.

Update II: Soto tripled to start the bottom of the fifth. Rendon brought him home with a bloop single touched by Dansby Swanson's glove. Nats led 4-3. Howie Kendrick singled and Robles was hit by a pitch again to lead the bases. But Taylor's fielder's choice erased Kendrick at home and Gomes flew out to deep center to end the possibility of a breakout inning.

After five innings, the Nats led the Braves 4-3.

Update III: In the top of the eighth, Tony Sipp allowed a double by Josh Donaldson but also struck out one and induced a fly out to left field. With two outs, Trevor Rosenthal got Riley to ground out to third base on a 1-2 pitch traveling 100 mph.

After eight innings, the Nats lead the Braves 4-3.

Update IV: In the ninth, Robles made a stunning catch of a Swanson drive, sliding forward avoiding a three-way collision to end the game. The Nats win 4-3 over the first-place Braves.