Nationals get two-run homer in ninth to upend Brewers
CJ Abrams had a two-run homer in the ninth inning as the visiting Washington Nationals completed a comeback from an early five-run deficit to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Saturday. Luis Garcia Jr. singled to open the ninth off closer Trevor Megill (0-2), who had converted 18 of 19 save opportunities. Garcia advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and Abrams followed with his 15th homer, sending a 1-0 pitch 416 feet to right-center.
Washington trailed 5-0 after one inning but scored three in the fourth off starter Dallas Keuchel. Garcia opened the seventh with a pinch-hit homer, his 11th blast of the season, off Jakob Junis to make it 5-4. Five relievers combined to keep the Brewers in check after the first. Derek Law (5-2) tossed a scoreless eighth for the win. Kyle Finnegan finished for his 25th save in 29 chances. Right-fielder Lane Thomas preserved the win with a leaping grab at the wall with two outs in the ninth and a runner at second.
The Brewers jumped on Mitchell Parker immediately. Jackson Chourio doubled to open the first and Joey Ortiz walked. Parker fanned the next two, but Rhys Hoskins lined a two-run double to left. Sal Frelick worked an 11-pitch walk, and Andruw Monasterio followed with a ground-rule double to center, making it 3-0 and chasing Parker after just 46 pitches. Jordan Weems relieved and walked Blake Perkins to load the bases. Eric Haase followed with a two-run single to center. The Nationals drew two walks in the eighth, but Megill relieved with two outs and struck out pinch hitter Jesse Winker.
