Robles catch helps Nats hold on for 8-5 win over Braves

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves were poised to snatch back the lead.

Victor Robles had other ideas.

Leaping above the wall to deny a homer, Robles made sure the Washington Nationals bounced back from a stunning loss to beat Atlanta 8-5 on Tuesday night.

“Awesome catch,” manager Dave Martinez said. “That was a game-saver right there, it really was. He went back, found the wall and did everything right.”

With every starter contributing to a 17-hit attack and Eric Thames driving in three runs, the Nationals overcame a 5-2 deficit with a four-run fifth inning.

This time, the bullpen made it stand up, one night after closer Daniel Hudson surrendered a three-run lead in the ninth, giving up a pair of homers including Dansby Swanson's two-run, two-out shot.

Freddie Freeman homered for the Braves, and Austin Riley could've had one in the fifth if not for Robles.

With two outs and a runner aboard, Riley hit a shot that appeared headed over the wall in the deepest part of Truist Park. But Robles drifted back, timed his leap perfectly and stretched above the yellow line to make the catch, preserving a 6-5 lead.

Rounding first, Riley buckled backward in disbelief when he saw Robles holding up his glove to display the ball. On the mound, Wander Suero thrust his right arm toward the sky, clearly relieved that his teammate had bailed him out.

“It was complete instinct,” Robles said through an interpreter. “Right now, I would put that at the top of the list because it saved two runs.”

Josh Tomlin, coming out of the bullpen to make his first start of the season for Atlanta, gave the Braves four decent innings before handing off to a 5-2 lead to Tyler Matzek.

“We got exactly what we wanted out of Josh, exactly what we needed him to do,” said Braves manager Brian...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Robles-catch-helps-Nats-hold-on-for-8-5-win-over-15494097.php