Tanner Rainey left his 96-mph fastball right over the heart of the plate, and Pablo Sandoval knew what to do with the heater.
The Braves pinch hitter crushed Rainey’s fastball 413 feet, over Victor Robles and his leap at the center-field fence, leaving the yard, delivering a major blow to the Washington Nationals. Rainey entered in the seventh to replace Stephen Strasburg, who had pitched a six-inning gem to that point. Strasburg allowed one hit and two walks while striking out eight.
But without an ounce of offensive support, Strasburg’s performance unraveled quickly once he departed.