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Thomas hits 3-run homer, Nationals beat Braves 7-2 to spoil Schwellenbach’s debut

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Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 7-2 Wednesday night to spoil Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach’s major league debut.

Nationals Braves Baseball Washington Nationals CJ Abrams (5) reacts after being hit during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Marcell Ozuna (20) of the Atlanta Braves hits a single RBI during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) attempts to help Washington Nationals Jacob Young (30) as he lays down after being hit during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Jacob Young (30) of the Washington Nationals stands up after being hit at bat during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Washington Nationals’ Lane Thomas (28) hits a double in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) hits during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Nationals Braves Baseball Joey Gallo (24) of the Washington Nationals hits a single in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

ATLANTA (AP) — Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 7-2 Wednesday night to spoil Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach’s major league debut.

Schwellenbach (0-1), who had never pitched above Double-A, lasted five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter.

After a double in the fifth period, Schwellenbach hit Jacob Young in the head with a fastball when the No. 9 hitter ran into a bunt. Young fell face down at home plate and Schwellenbach immediately put both hands on his head and walked toward home plate.

Young was down for a minute, but stayed in the match. Two batters later, Thomas homered to give Washington a 3-1 lead. An inning later, Young hit a two-out, two-run single to make it 5-2. Kelbert Ruiz capped the Nationals’ scoring with a two-run single in the ninth that a sliding Michael Harris couldn’t make.

MacKenzie Gore (4-4) earned the win for the Nats, who won two of the first three games of the four-game series. Gore pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits. He had 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Thomas was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two steals and two runs, and Young was 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Ruiz was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and Joey Gallo had two hits. The Nationals tied a season high with five stolen bases.

Dylan Floro, Robert Garcia, Hunter Henry and Jordan Weems did not allow out of the bullpen in 3 2/3 innings. Nationals pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.

FOLLOWING

Braves RHP Reynaldo López (2-2, 1.75) was scheduled to face Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (4-0, 2.29) on Thursday night in the final game of the four-game series.

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