Game result and context
Atlanta Braves defeat Washington Nationals 9-0 in 2026 regular season matchup
The Atlanta Braves improved to 83-57 with a 9-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on September 2, 2026. A pair of three-run home runs in the sixth and seventh innings broke the game open, while the Braves pitching staff held the Nationals scoreless.
Final result
The Atlanta Braves defeated the Washington Nationals 9-0 on September 2, 2026. The Braves moved to 83-57 on the season, while the Nationals fell to 67-75.
The game remained scoreless through the first five innings before the Braves offense produced three runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, two in the eighth, and one in the ninth.
How the game changed
The contest turned in the top of the sixth inning when Sean Murphy hit a three-run home run to break the scoreless tie. The Braves added to their lead in the seventh inning with a three-run home run from Ronald Acuña Jr., extending the advantage to 6-0 and effectively securing the win.
Key performances
Sean Murphy led the Braves offense, finishing with two hits, two runs scored, and four RBIs, including his three-run home run. Ronald Acuña Jr. contributed three hits, two runs, and three RBIs, highlighted by his own three-run home run.
Austin Riley added two hits and two RBIs for Atlanta. On the mound, Elieser Hernández earned the win, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings. For Washington, Brad Lord provided 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out six batters.
Season and playoff context
With this victory, the Atlanta Braves hold a 19-game magic number to clinch their division, maintaining their position as the division leader. The Washington Nationals, currently in fourth place in the division, sit 17.0 games back of the lead and 7.5 games out of a wild-card spot, with an elimination number of 5 for the division and 14 for the wild card.