WASHINGTON — CJ Abrams’ third hit of the game drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to give the Washington Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

The Braves (97-59) fell a game behind the first-place Mets in the NL East.  The teams open a three-game series Friday in Atlanta, weather permitting.

Victor Robles bunted leading off the 10th against Jackson Stephens (3-3). Robles was initially called safe, but the call was overturned, with Alex Call moving to third. With the infield in, pinch-hitter Cesar Hernandez walked. Lane Thomas grounded to third, but Abrams singled to right, scoring Call.

Matt Olson had two hits, including his 30th homer of the season, for the Braves.

Kyle Finnegan (6-4) pitched two innings for the win.

Atlanta tied it 2-all in the eighth. With two outs and a runner on second, Michael Harris II hit a grounder up the middle. Luis Garcia made a diving stop but bounced his throw to first and Joey Meneses couldn’t handle it. Harris was safe and Dansby Swanson came around with the tying run as the ball bounced away.
Washington starter Josiah Gray gave up a run on two hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Braves starter Jake Odorizzi allowed two runs – one earned – on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked three without a strikeout.

Olson’s homer tied the game 1-all in the second.

In the third, Abrams singled and went to third when Eddie Rosario misplayed the ball in left. Luke Voit lined a single to left, scoring Abrams to make it 2-1.

METS 5, MARLINS 4: Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in five late runs — including the winning single in the 10th inning — to rally New York past visiting Miami.

By overcoming a four-run deficit, the Mets moved a game ahead of the Braves.

One win against the Braves would give the Mets the season-series tiebreaker over Atlanta.

Escobar hit a two-run homer in the seventh and tied it on a two-run single with two outs in the eighth. Both those big hits came right-handed, but the switch-hitter was batting from the left side when his RBI single off Dylan Floro (1-3) in the 10th scored automatic runner Francisco Lindor from second.

PIRATES 4, REDS 3: Kevin Newman hit a winning single in the 10th inning, and Pittsburgh rebounded from a blown three-run lead in the ninth to beat visiting Cincinnati, sending the Reds to their 96th loss, their most since 2015.

Kyle Farmer hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Chase De Jong and Jake Fraley homered five pitches later to tie the score 3-3.

After Johan Ramirez (3-1) pitched a perfect 10th, Alexis Diaz (6-3) intentionally walked Ben Gamel, and Newman dumped a two-out single into shallow center to score pinch-runner Rodolfo Castro from second. Newman has seven walkoff hits.

Pittsburgh (59-97), last in the NL Central, pulled within a game of the Reds (60-96), who are headed to their worst record since going 64-98 in 2015. The Pirates have won seven in a row against Cincinnati.

Bryse Wilson allowed three hits – all to Jose Barrero – in eight shutout innings, Pittsburgh’s longest scoreless outing since Ivan Nova against Arizona on June 22, 2018 against Arizona.

Luis Cessa gave up three runs and six hits in six innings in his 200th career game and 28th start.

Miguel Andujar had an RBI double in the first and has five RBI since the Pirates claimed him off waivers from the New York Yankees. Oneil Cruz hit a two-run double in the second.

CUBS 3, PHILLIES 1: Aaron Nola surrendered Christopher Morel’s three-run homer in the fifth inning, and Philadelphia lost at Chicago.

Philadelphia (83-71) dropped its third consecutive game. The Phillies are trying to hold off Milwaukee for the third NL wild card and earn their first playoff appearance since 2011.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TIGERS 3, ROYALS 2: Miguel Cabrera hit his 507th home run, Detroit got nine innings from its bullpen and the Tigers beat visiting Kansas City for their fifth straight victory.

MJ Melendez led off the game with a home run for Kansas City, and Cabrera hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning. He has 1,845 RBI, moving him past Carl Yastrzemski for 12th place on the career list.

Scheduled Tigers starter Matt Manning was scratched just before game time because of arm fatigue. Will Vest pitched the first inning, allowing Melendez’s homer, and the next six relievers combined for eight shutout innings. Gregory Soto pitched the ninth for his 29th save.

GUARDIANS 2, RAYS 1: Pinch-hitter Amed Rosario had a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning to give Cleveland a win at home.

Rosario, who wasn’t in the starting lineup as Manager Terry Francona rests his regulars after wrapping up the the AL Central, batted for Luke Maile. He lined the first pitch over the head of right fielder Manuel Margot to score Oscar Gonzalez from third base.

Tampa Bay’s magic number to wrap up a wild-card spot dropped to two with Baltimore losing to Boston. Staff ace Tyler Glasnow allowed one run in three innings in his first appearance in over a year following Tommy John surgery.

TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 4: Minnesota rookie Matt Wallner drove in a career-high three runs and Gio Urshela and Jake Cave each had three hits as the host Twins sent Chicago to its eighth straight loss.

NOTES

ROYALS: Longtime big league catcher and Manager John Wathan announced he will retire after this season, ending a career in professional baseball that included 47 of 51 years spent with the Kansas City Royals.

Nicknamed “Duke,” Wathan was a first-round pick of the Royals in 1971 and eventually spent 10 seasons behind the plate for them. That included his memorable 1980 season in which he hit .305 and helped Kansas City win the AL pennant, and their 1985 season, when he helped the club win its first World Series title in his final year before retiring as a player.

Wathan went into coaching and managed the Royals from 1987 into the 1991 season before spending part of the 1992 season managing the Angels. He also did some broadcasting work for Kansas City before returning to the Royals in a player development role, eventually helping the club win two more AL pennants and the 2015 World Series.

“I’m very fortunate to have worked with the Royals, the classiest organization in baseball, and with so many great people throughout the years,” Wathan said. “I’m grateful for the tremendous support from all the great Royals fans throughout the years, and my wife Nancy and I are proud to have made Kansas City our home and be part of this community.

“This was my dream as a kid, and I have had a full and blessed life to join this organization at 21 and work here until almost turning 73.”

Wathan’s son, Derek, spent a decade playing minor league baseball. His other son, Dusty, played briefly for the Royals and is now the third-base coach of the Phillies. His daughter, Dina, also works for the Royals.

“Not many people walking this earth have done so many things for one organization,” Royals Manager J.J. Picollo said. “I want to thank Duke for his complete honesty, regardless of the situation, and how he represents the game of baseball.”

YANKEES: Infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to be activated off the injured list before Friday’s series opener against Baltimore.

LeMahieu has not played since Sept. 4 because of a sore toe on his right foot. He is batting .262 with 12 homers and 46 RBI in 120 games.

Before the Yankees wrapped up their series in Toronto on Wednesday, Manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu would go through another full workout after hitting and running Tuesday.

Boone also said Giancarlo Stanton is not expected to return to the outfield in the postseason. Stanton has not played defense since returning from the injured list Aug. 25 after missing 28 games because of left Achilles tendinitis.

Stanton was out of the starting lineup Wednesday. He is batting .146 (14 for 96) and has struck out 40 times since returning from the IL.

New York has its final off day of the regular season Thursday, then concludes its home schedule with a weekend series against the Orioles.

The Yankees close out the regular season with four games at Texas, including a doubleheader Tuesday.

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