Nationals thrashed Braves to claim 10-run victory in league match

The Washington Nationals sent nine batters to the plate in each of the first two innings while Anibal Sanchez came off the injured list to throw six scoreless innings in a 14-4 road out of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Five different Washington batters had multiple hits, with three from Trea Turner and two apiece from Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Matt Adams. Soto extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games and Kendrick drove in four runs, tying his season high.

Sanchez (1-6) pitched for the first time since May 16 after being sidelined with a left hamstring strain. He retired the first 16 batters he faced until Ozzie Albies lined a single to centre with one out in the sixth. Sanchez allowed only one hit and one walk and lowered his ERA from 5.10 to 4.47. Kyle McGowin pitched the final three innings to earn his first career save.

The Nationals swept the two-game series in Atlanta and have won five of their last six games. Atlanta starter Kevin Gausman (2-4) pitched only one inning and allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks. His ERA rose from 4.33 to 5.56. It was Gausman's first loss to the Nationals since May 28, 2013. He had been 4-0 in five previous starts against Washington.

Washington put four runs on the board in the first inning. Kendrick started with a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single from Adams, Kurt Suzuki and Victor Robles. The Nationals scored four more runs in the second inning. Rendon had a two-run triple, followed by an RBI single from Soto and a run-scoring groundout from Robles.

Soto added a solo homer, his ninth, in the fourth inning to stretch the lead to 9-0. Washington scored five times in the fifth. Kendrick's double with the bases loaded chased three runs home and Adams launched a two-run homer, his fifth, to right field.

The bright spot for Atlanta was a grand slam for rookie outfielder Austin Riley against McGowin in the seventh inning. It was Riley's seventh home run in 14 games and gives him 20 RBIs. Riley added a single in the ninth and is batting .375.