Rookie lefty Parker logs another strong start as the Nationals beat Morton and the Braves 8-4

ATLANTA (AP) — Mitchell Parker pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning and CJ Abrams homered, helping the Washington Nationals beat the depleted Atlanta Braves 8-4 on Monday.

Parker (4-2) allowed three runs, struck out six and walked none in 6 1/3 innings. He threw 100 pitches, 74 for strikes.

The rookie left-hander has permitted three runs or fewer in each of his first eight major league starts. A key to Parker's success has been efficiency.

“Just a lot of early contact, a lot of ground balls,” Parker said. “Fielders were making a lot of plays and ... just keeping the counts short, the pitch count down. That’s all that matters.”

Jacob Young had three of the Nationals’ season-high 15 hits. Nick Senzel had two hits, including a two-run single in a four-run first inning against Charlie Morton.

“We love it, playing defense behind him,” Abrams said of Parker's quick innings. “The more time you spend in the dugout and hitting the better off you are.”

The Braves adjusted their lineup in their first game since losing 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Sunday.

Second baseman Ozzie Albies was the team’s new leadoff hitter. Jared Kelenic and Adam Duvall, who have been sharing time in left field, each started. Duvall replaced Acuña in right and Kelenic started in left.

Parker was working with an 8-0 lead before fading in the seventh.

Sean Murphy, who was activated off the injured list before the game, drove in Marcell Ozuna with a groundout for Atlanta's first run. Duvall followed with a two-run homer that knocked Parker out of the game.

Morton (3-2) was charged with eight runs and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings. It was the most runs allowed by Morton, a 40-year-old right-hander, since he gave up nine runs in a 9-2 loss at Washington while pitching for Pittsburgh on June 21, 2015.

Manager Brian Snitker said his choice to have Albies lead off was a “day-to-day thing. I like him against a lefty, obviously. I may stay with him.”

Albies opened the game with a single to right field. Parker retired Atlanta's next 14 batters before Michael Harris II singled up the middle with two outs in the fifth.

Eddie Rosario, who hit 21 homers for Atlanta last year and then agreed to a minor league contract with Washington in March, received a warm reception from fans in the first inning. Rosario took off his batting helmet, tapped his chest over his heart, and delivered a run-scoring double to drive in Washington's first run.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: OF Victor Robles was designated for assignment as OF Lane Thomas (left knee sprain) was activated from the 10-day injured list. Robles, 27, was hitting only .120 with four stolen bases this season and .236 for his career. Thomas had two doubles and scored a run in his return after missing 29 games.

Braves: Acuña was placed on the 10-day injured list. OF J.P. Martinez was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett. INF Joey Wendle was designated for assignment. 3B Austin Riley had no hits in his return after missing two weeks with tightness in his left side.

UP NEXT

LHP Max Fried (4-2, 3.38 ERA), who is coming off his second complete-game victory of the season, is scheduled to start for Atlanta against Washington RHP Jake Irvin (2-5, 3.79 ERA) on Tuesday night. Fried is 7-4 with a 4.22 ERA in 17 career games against the Nationals.

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Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas beats the tag of Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) on Thomas' double in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Jimmy Herget (64) works in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals' Kyle Finnegan (67) embraces catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals' Eddie Rosario, left and Luis García Jr. (2) celebrate after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals first baseman Joey Gallo (24) hits a single in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals' Nick Senzel (13) hits a single against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II (23) hits a single in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker (70) wipes his face in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) can't get the ball hit by Washington Nationals Jesse Winker (6) in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals' Nick Senzel (13) celebrates his RBI-double against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals outfielder Eddie Rosario (8) celebrates hitting an RBI double in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) hits a single against the Washington Nationals in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals outfielder Eddie Rosario (8) recoveres after stealing third base against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker (70) works in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) hits a single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Morton (50) tags out Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz (20) between first and second base in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals' Eddie Rosario (8) attempts a bunt in the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals' Jacob Young (30) gets past Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) on a steal in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker (70) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer and scored four times, Mookie Betts also went deep and drove in four runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the New York Mets 10-2 on Thursday night for a 3-1 lead in their lopsided National League Championship Series.

Betts had a two-run homer and a two-run double among his four hits. Max Muncy extended his streak of reaching base safely to 12 plate appearances, a postseason record, and the Dodgers moved within one win of their 25th pennant — most in NL history.

Game 5 is Friday at Citi Field, with Jack Flaherty expected to pitch for Los Angeles with an opportunity to put his hometown team in the World Series.

New York had not committed to a scheduled starter, but it was likely to be Kodai Senga or David Peterson.

Surprise cleanup batter Tommy Edman had three RBIs, including a tiebreaking double off starter Jose Quintana with two outs in the third inning. Kiké Hernández followed with an RBI single that made it 3-1.

Betts broke open the game, greeting reliever Jose Buttó with a two-run double in the fourth and then right-hander Phil Maton with a two-run homer in the sixth.

Both big hits followed walks to Ohtani, and Betts gave a huge fist pump between second and third as he rounded the bases following his third homer of these playoffs.

Mark Vientos provided a rare highlight for New York, hitting his fourth postseason homer in the first inning off $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

But the Mets, who were 14-2 in their past 16 games at Citi Field when they arrived back home Wednesday, were blown out on their own turf for the second consecutive night.

New York has been outscored 30-9 in the series, including 9-0 in the opener and 8-0 in Game 3.

The latest flop after a thrilling comeback ride this far into October hushed a sellout crowd of 43,882 and left Citi Field eerily quiet in the late innings — and just about as empty as April.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: All-Star 1B Freddie Freeman missed his second game of the playoffs. Freeman has been playing with a badly sprained and swollen right ankle throughout the postseason.

Mets: Slumping catcher Francisco Alvarez hobbled to first base in pain after getting drilled by Yamamoto's 91 mph sinker to begin the fifth. He was pulled for a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in the sixth.

UP NEXT

Acquired from Detroit at the July 30 trade deadline, Flaherty went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for the Dodgers and finished 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA overall. He allowed two hits over seven innings to win the NLCS opener 9-0.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a double by Mookie Betts during the fourth inning in Game 4 of a baseball NL Championship Series against the New York Mets, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates after a two run double against the New York Mets during the fourth inning in Game 4 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning in Game 4 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New York (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates after a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning in Game 4 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates after a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning in Game 4 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)