WASHINGTON (AP) — Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg's six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, Ronald Acuña Jr. led the way with a double and a pair of singles to help Atlanta snap a season-starting four-game losing streak by edging Washington 7-6.
Sandoval, who hit three homers in one game while earning World Series MVP honors for the San Francisco Giants in 2012, signed a minor league contract in January with the Braves, setting him for a one-year, $1 million deal if he made the 40-man roster.