Robles on latest clutch homer, Soto frustrated with strikeouts

ATLANTA - The story in game one was left-hander Max Fried as the Braves defeated the Nationals 4-2. The 25-year-old left-hander, who attended the same high school as former Nats starter Lucas Giolito, tossed seven shutout innings against the Nats, striking out nine.

But once the Nats got past the Harvard-Westlake, Ca., graduate and into the Braves bullpen, they finally put together another familiar comeback, scoring two and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in their last at-bat. Unfortunately for the Nats, this rally came up short when Howie Kendrick grounded out to third to end the game.

Center fielder Victor Robles made the 28,831 at SunTrust Park a bit nervous when he reached down to the lower half of the strike zone to crush a 91-mph cutter off former Nats reliever Mark Melancon. The laser shot on an 0-1 count in the top of the ninth was well over the glove of Billy Hamilton to get the Nats on the board.

His 17th homer of the season was a two-run shot that made a big sound off his bat, scoring Trea Turner in front of him. The Nats trimmed the deficit from 4-0 to 4-2.

"He's clutch. He gets it," Martinez said. "He understands the game. Right there he's not trying to do much but get a good swing on a baseball. He understands the game. I loved our at-bats the last inning, they all do what they do, they all took a strike, they all wanted Melancon to throw strikes and they worked good at-bats."

Robles tipped his hat to Fried, who allowed only one hit all night.

"He had great command," Robles said via team translator Octavio Martinez. "He was locating his pitches very well. I think that's what kept him from getting in trouble those innings."

During the ninth inning at-bat that resulted in his career-high 17th blast of the season, Robles described his thinking against Melancon.

"I was just trying to make good contact to get on base," Robles said. "Because regardless of the home run, we were down by four runs, so that wouldn't have tied up the game at all. I was just trying to see a good pitch and get on base anyway I could and keep the rally going."

And Robles said he doesn't just get up for those final at-bats. He is trying to connect and stay in every at-bat. It was just on this night, Fried was very good.

"I try to battle every at-bat," Robles said. "I don't try to give at-bats away. Try to get on base and help the team win any way I can and obviously for me it's getting on base. I've been successful in my late inning at-bats for whatever reason because every at-bat I try to take it and approach it the same way, and just never give up out there. Just like we had that situation with the Mets down by six runs and we came back. I feel like that's what we are trying to do, not give at-bats away and battle to the end."

Robles' homer was one of the few highlights during a rough evening for the Nats offense. One rally was not going to do it against this Braves team. Fried was so good he struck out Juan Soto three times. With each strikeout, it appeared Soto was becoming increasingly frustrated with his at-bats and home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman's strike zone.

On the first two strikeouts, Soto viciously slammed down his bat and batting helmet close to home plate and Dreckman. But the umpire turned his head each time. Some other umpires maybe would not have shown the patience Dreckman displayed in those heated moments and would've run Soto. But Soto stayed in and persevered for a single in that ninth inning rally.

Martinez understands Soto's passion to succeed but also knows his young star has got to be careful and make sure he stays in games.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow, but he's got to learn how to play the game," Martinez cautioned. "And I'll talk to him tomorrow and say that (Fried) was good, you have to just battle. But you see what happens that last inning, he gets up there, regroups himself and gets a big hit for us."

* Double-A Harrisburg held off a Bowie comeback attempt in Game 2 for a 5-4, 12-inning victory in game two of the Eastern League Western Division Championship Series. Dante Bichette Jr. scored Cole Freeman with an RBI single in extra innings. Jacob Condra-Bogan pitched the final two innings to earn the win, striking out three. Bichette finished with three hits, a run scored and two RBIs. Andrew Lee tossed five hitless innings to start the game.

The series is even at 1-1. The Senators now have home field advantage on City Island. The best-of-five series shifts to FNB Field in Harrisburg, Pa., for the third, fourth and fifth games (if necessary). Game 3 is tonight at 7 p.m.