By BOBBY BANCROFT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have one of the best offenses in baseball, yet eventually will need to rely on pitching to get the job done.

Right now, that’s coming in form of rookie Ian Anderson.

Anderson allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings and the NL East-leading Braves held on to beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 on Saturday night after closer Mark Melancon escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.

In his fourth career start, Anderson (3-0) allowed his only hit when Asdrúbal Cabrera put a bunt down the third baseline. Anderson had a season-high nine strikeouts, allowed three walks and retired the last 12 batters he faced and 18 of the final 19.

“I wasn’t entirely happy giving up three walks in the first three innings, “Anderson said after pitching a season-high innings for Braves starters.

Anderson is the second pitcher over the last 120 years to allow one hit or less in two starts of at least six innings in his first four appearances. The 22-year-old right-hander also allowed one hit against the Mets in his debut on Aug. 26.

Melancon earned his 10th save in 11 chances, getting Victor Robles to pop out to right field with the bases loaded.

“I really thought we were going to score in the last inning,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez as the 2019 World Series champs fell further out of expanded playoff picture. “We had our chance there, and it just didn’t happen.”

After falling behind 5-0 in each of the first two game of the series, Ronald Acuña Jr. had a single, a stolen base, and scored a run on a Marcell Ozuna single in the first inning as Atlanta never looked back. Ozzie Albies’ two-out RBI single in the fourth pushed the Braves lead to 2-0.

Adam Eaton came in as a pinch hitter to lead off the eighth against Braves reliever Shane Greene and got the Nationals’ second hit of the game on a single to right. He stole second and then scored on a two-out RBI double by Trea Turner.

Washington loaded the bases in the ninth on singles by Cabrera and Eric Thames, and an intentional walk to Eaton, but Robles popped out to right to end the game.

Atlanta has just three shutout wins through 46 games in the coronavirus-shortened season.

Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (2-5) allowed two runs on nine hits while striking out eight. The left-hander has lost his last five decisions, and last-place Washington has posted a 2-7 record in his starts in 2020.

“He gave us seven innings, which is perfect,” said Martinez. “We just didn’t score any runs for him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: LHP Cole Hamels (triceps tendinitis) is tentatively slated to make his first start of the season on Wednesday in Baltimore. … Acuña Jr. was back at the top of the Braves order after leaving Friday night’s game in the fourth inning after fouling a ball off his left foot. Acuña Jr. finished 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.

Nationals: Martinez said RHP Tanner Rainey had foreman tightness and will have the next few days off after an MRI came back negative on Friday. … Martinez gave an update on LHP Sean Doolittle, saying that his right oblique strain was significant and that maybe he could come back if Washington makes the postseason….Eaton was a late scratch with back spasms but entered the game in the eighth…Martinez isn’t sure as to his availability Sunday

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Kyle Wright (0-4, 8.05 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season in the series finale Sunday. He has pitched beyond the fourth inning just once.

Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (4-2, 3.40) tossed seven shutout innings and struck out eight in his last start against Tampa Bay on Sept. 7.

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