Braves’ offense quiet again in 3-1 loss to Nationals

Atlanta’s offensive struggles continued Thursday night in another loss to the Nationals.

It was another frustrating offensive performance for the Atlanta Braves who dropped their second straight game with a 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals Thursday night.

All eyes were on Kerr coming into his second career start. His afternoon got off to a great start with a strikeout of CJ Abrams to start the game. Lane Thomas dumped a single to right field and then stole second, but Kerr answered back quickly with strikeouts of Joey Meneses and Jesse Winker to leave him stranded.

Kerr allowed a one-out single to Nick Senzel in the second. He struck out Ildemaro Vargas with a curveball and then with Eddie Rosario at the plate, Sean Murphy gunned down Senzel trying to steal second to end the inning.

The Braves missed an opportunity against Nationals starter Trevor Williams in the second. Ozzie Albies poked a hit to left and then kept right on running for a hustle double. Orlando Arcia followed with a walk to put runners at first and second with one out. However, Williams came back and struck out Murphy and Adam Duvall to leave both runners stranded.

Kerr worked his way into a jam in the third. He retired Eddie Rosario with a ground out to start the inning but then hit Jacob Young with an 0-2 pitch. Young moved to second on a wild pitch. Kerr struck out Abrams for the second out. With Thomas at the plate, Young swiped third and Thomas walked to put runners at the corners. Thomas stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Meneses then got jammed on a high and tight fastball that just snuck inside the bag at first for a two-run double.

Winker then lifted a deep fly ball to left that Jarred Kelenic tried to make a leaping catch on at the wall but the ball kicked off his glove for another run-scoring double. Kerr lost focus following the double. Winker stole third and then Kerr hit Keibert Ruiz with a 3-0 pitch to put runners back at the corners. Senzel lined out to third to finally bring the inning to an end.

The Nationals ran wild on Kerr in the inning, but the pitch that Meneses doubled on was bad luck. Winker’s double was hit well but the type of play that we have seen Kelenic make this season.

The Braves answered back in the home half of the inning. Jarred Kelenic led off the inning with a hit to left that Eddie Rosario misplayed into a triple. Michael Harris followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-1. Austin Riley grounded out for the second out, but Marcell Ozuna extended the inning with a single to right. Olson followed with another walk to put runners at first and second, but Albies flew out to left to strand two more runners.

Kerr found himself in hot water again in the fourth. He struck out Vargas to start then inning but then walked Rosario. Young then dropped down a bunt that Kerr fielded but threw wide of Olson at first. Both runners moved into scoring position on the play. Kerr came back and struck out Abrams for the third time in the game for the second out. That would bring an end to Kerr’s evening as Brian Snitker summoned Jesse Chavez from the bullpen. Chavez jumped ahead of Thomas 1-2 and then struck him out with a curveball to leave the runners stranded.

Kerr allowed five hits and three runs in 3 ²⁄₃ innings. He walked two and struck out seven while throwing 76 pitches. There was some bad luck included, but an ill-timed hit by pitch and a walk helped put him in an early hole.

Chavez retired the side in order in the fifth and then worked in and out of a jam in the sixth. Senzel greeted him with a double down the third base line. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Vargas. Rosario then sent a broken bat grounder to Riley who threw across for the second out. Young went down looking to leave the runner at third.

Williams retired nine hitters after Olson’s walk in the third inning before Albies singled with two outs in the sixth. That would end Williams’ night as Dave Martinez brought in Dylan Floro who struck out Arcia to strand yet another runner.

Hunter Harvey retired Harris and Riley to start the eighth before Ozuna hit a ground rule double to left. Olson just missed a double down the line in right, but then went down swinging to end another potential rally.

Kyle Finnegan entered in the ninth and walked Albies to start the inning. Albies stole second but Finnegan retired Arcia, Murphy and Duvall in order to end the game. Washington’s bullpen retired 10 of the last 12 hitters it faced.

The Braves managed just five hits in the game and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Albies and Ozuna accounted for four of Atlanta’s five hits.

Atlanta drops three of four in the series and falls to 31-23 on the season. They will continue their homestand Friday when they begin a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.