Yohandy Morales finished a triple short of the cycle in his major league debut, Jared Simpson pitched three scoreless innings for the win in his debut and the Washington Nationals beat the visiting Atlanta Braves 9-5 Tuesday.
CJ Abrams, back in the Washington lineup after getting scratched Monday night due to back soreness, had two hits and drove in two runs. Brady House knocked in three runs for the Nationals (67-74), who have won five of six.
Morales, a 24-year-old infielder who was Washington’s second-round draft pick in 2023, went 3-for-5 with a walk while serving as the designated hitter. He homered leading off the third inning.
Simpson (1-0), a 26-year-old left-hander, was selected in the eighth round in 2023. He did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out three.
Michael Harris II homered in a second straight game and Ozzie Albies also went deep for the Braves (82-57), who have lost two straight after winning seven in a row. Ha-Seong Kim finished 3-for-3.
Atlanta starter AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1) gave up five runs on six hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Albies homered to give the Braves a 1-0 lead with two outs in the second.
Washington answered in the bottom half of the inning. Harry Ford walked with one out and Jorbit Vivas doubled him to third. Jacob Young struck out, but Abrams grounded a two-run single to center. After Dylan Crews walked, House’s two-run double made it 4-1.
In the Atlanta third, Brewer Hicklen walked, went to third on Kim’s single and scored when Drake Baldwin doubled. Nationals starter Jake Irvin retired the next three batters.
Leading off the bottom of the third, Morales hit an 0-1 pitch out to left-center for his first big-league hit, and the lead was 5-2.
Young singled leading off the sixth and Abrams walked. Young later scored on House’s sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.
Morales doubled leading off the seventh and went to third on a groundout before Vivas drew a two-out walk. Morales came home on pitcher Brent Suter’s throwing error, and Young followed with an RBI single.
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. scored on a wild pitch in the eighth. Matt Olson then doubled and Harris homered to pull the Braves within 8-5.
Daylen Lile walked with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and singles by Morales and Andres Chaparro produced a run.
Irvin allowed two runs on five hits over four-plus innings. He fanned five and walked one.
