ATLANTA — The Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-4 in a tightly contested game on May 14, 2025, at Truist Park, improving their record to 18-26 and holding fourth place in the National League East. The Braves, now 21-22, remain third in the division. The Nationals’ late rally, fueled by key hits and Braves’ miscues, secured the victory in front of 37,134 fans.
The Nationals struck first in the opening inning when Nathaniel Lowe’s forceout scored Amed Rosario, who had been hit by a pitch, giving Washington a 1-0 lead. The Braves responded in the third, tying the game on Stuart Fairchild’s RBI double and taking a 2-1 lead when Fairchild scored on a throwing error by Nationals catcher Riley Adams. Atlanta extended their lead to 4-1 in the fifth with Marcell Ozuna’s two-run double off Jackson Rutledge, scoring Fairchild and Nick Allen.
Washington mounted a comeback in the seventh. Dylan Crews’ RBI single scored Lowe, and José Tena’s double drove in Crews, narrowing the gap to 4-3. The pivotal moment came in the eighth when CJ Abrams scored on Rosario’s single, tying the game at 4-4 after a throwing error by pitcher Enyel De Los Santos. James Wood followed with a go-ahead double, scoring pinch-runner Nasim Nuñez for a 5-4 lead. De Los Santos took the loss, allowing two runs in one-third of an inning.
Jose A. Ferrer earned the win for Washington, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings, while Kyle Finnegan secured his 13th save, navigating a leadoff single by Drake Baldwin in the ninth. Mitchell Parker started for the Nationals, allowing four runs over 4.2 innings, with Rutledge, Cole Henry, and Ferrer combining for 4.1 innings of relief. For the Braves, Bryce Elder pitched six solid innings, allowing one run, but the bullpen faltered, with Aaron Bummer and De Los Santos unable to hold the lead.
The Nationals’ offense was led by Abrams, Wood, Crews, and Tena, each recording two hits. Tena’s two doubles and Wood’s 11th double of the season were critical in the rally. For the Braves, Fairchild had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run, while Ozuna’s double accounted for two RBIs. Defensive errors proved costly for both teams, with Adams’ throwing error aiding Atlanta’s second run and Austin Riley’s fielding error contributing to Washington’s seventh-inning surge.
Notable plays included a Braves relay in the first, nabbing Abrams at home, and a reviewed call in the third, overturning a potential home run by Michael Harris II into a triple. Crews stole his 11th base but was caught stealing earlier, marking his second caught stealing of the season. The Braves also executed two double plays, limiting Washington’s scoring opportunities.
The game, played under partly cloudy skies with temperatures at 81 degrees and a 4 mph wind blowing out to left field, lasted two hours and 58 minutes, with the first pitch at 7:16 p.m. EDT. Umpires reviewed two plays, including a tag play in the fourth, which resulted in Josh Bell being called out at second.
Washington’s bullpen management was key, with Ferrer escaping a jam in the eighth after hitting Sean Murphy, who was replaced by pinch-runner Luke Williams. Finnegan’s composure in the ninth, handling Baldwin’s single and inducing a groundout from Alex Verdugo, sealed the win. Atlanta’s late-game struggles, particularly in the bullpen, underscored their inability to close out the contest.
This victory highlights the Nationals’ resilience, capitalizing on Atlanta’s errors and delivering clutch hits. For the Braves, the loss exposes ongoing challenges in late-inning pitching, despite a strong offensive showing early. The teams’ competitive matchup sets the stage for further divisional battles.
