Aug 7, 2018 4 min read

Ender Inciarte snapped a ninth-inning tie with a two-run triple, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 Tuesday night to earn a doubleheader split.

In the opener, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit consecutive homers to spark a four-run fourth inning that carried Washington to an 8-3 victory.

Seeking to blunt the momentum of the surging Nationals, Atlanta shook off a strong pitching performance by Max Scherzer before striking against the Washington bullpen in the second game of the day-night doubleheader.

Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis singled off Kelvin Herrera (1-2) before Inciarte hit a liner down the first-base line. The ball bounced off a low barrier in foul ground and momentarily eluded Harper, who had no options by the time he picked it up in right field.

That was the final pitch thrown by Herrera, who left after a visit from Washington’s trainer.

Jesse Biddle (3-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings and A.J. Minter got three outs for his ninth save.

The defeat ended Washington’s run of nine wins in 12 games. The Nationals are chasing first-place Philadelphia and Atlanta in the NL East.

Nationals sign Holland: The Nationals hope veteran reliever Greg Holland can return to form and use his postseason experience to help Washington make a playoff run of its own.

Holland has appeared in 12 postseason games, including the 2014 World Series with Kansas City. That, along with his 186 career saves, was more important to Washington than the 7.92 ERA he had with St. Louis before being designated for assignment July 27.

A day after the right-hander worked out with Washington, the Nationals announced his signing Tuesday before facing the Atlanta Braves in a split doubleheader.

“He’s a veteran guy that’s been around and pitched in high-level situations, pitched a World Series,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “If he’s healthy, and we think he is, he’s going to help us.”

American League

Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3: Willy Adames hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning, giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Adames’ fifth home run of the season came off Miguel Castro (2-6).

Sergio Romo (2-2) got the win after retiring two batters in the ninth, helping Tampa Bay break a three-game losing streak.

Yankees’ Ellsbury out for season: New York Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is out for the season after surgery on his left hip.

The Yankees said Tuesday Ellsbury had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum the previous day. The expected recovery time is about six months.

The 34-year-old Ellsbury has been out all season with a number of injuries, including an oblique strain and sore back. The Yankees put him on the 60-day disabled list in May.

“They were trying to exhaust every other way to try and get him back and get him right, but finally they decided surgery was the way to go,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees played the Chicago White Sox Tuesday night.

“Hopefully, this is something that gets him right. He can start back on the mend. From what I understand, the six months will put him in line for spring training,” he said.

In 112 games last season, Ellsbury hit .264 with 39 RBIs and seven home runs.

Interleague

Houston 2, San Francisco 1: Tyler White hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros pulled off a late rally for the second straight game, beating the San Francisco Giants 2-1.

The win followed the Astros’ 3-1 victory Monday night in which Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth.

This time, the AL West leaders again trailed 1-0 when Gonzalez doubled and White hit a high, arching shot to left field off Ray Black (1-1).