Abrams homers, Irvin goes 6 strong innings to lead Nationals over Braves 5-1

WASHINGTON (AP) — CJ Abrams hit a home run, Jake Irvin gave up one run and two hits in six innings, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Atlanta starter Max Fried kept his team close, but the Braves only had six hits and fell one game behind the Mets — 6-2 winners over the Blue Jays on Wednesday — in the race for the third NL wild card. Atlanta has now lost six of its last 11.

“We’ve just been having a hard time scoring runs," said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “You still have to score. You got to really, really pitch good, which we have, but the offense has got to be more consistent if you’re going to support the pitching.”

Fried (9-9) allowed four runs on 11 hits over six innings, striking out six and walking none with one hit batter on 94 pitches. The left-hander has gone at least six innings in four of his last five starts, but this was the first time allowing four earned runs since Aug. 10.

“You can’t control a lot but at the same time it’s frustrating because we’re trying to win games," Fried said. “It doesn’t matter if a ball is hit 40 mph or 120 mph, I’d much rather be getting an out. It’s frustrating."

Irvin (10-12) held the Braves hitless for 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one, and was 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA in four starts against Atlanta this season.

“Those guys get to see me a lot, but the role’s reversed as well," Irvin said. "Just understanding what those guys do and how we can best pitch around them and pitch to them, I think helped out a lot.”

Abrams' 420-foot home run over the center-field wall in the fourth inning was the fourth longest of his career, and left the ballpark at 105.8 mph. With his 20th homer, he is the fifth Nationals player with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, joining Lane Thomas (2023), Bryce Harper (2016), Ian Desmond (2012, 2013, 2014) and Alfonso Soriano (2006).

“That’s a heck of an accomplishment for a young player," said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. "I’m really proud of him. He’s been battling every day. To get that out of the way, maybe he can relax a little bit and finish up the season strong.”

Michael Harris II lined a double to the right-center field wall for the Braves' first hit with two outs in the top of the sixth. Jorge Soler followed with a double to put Atlanta on the board.

Irvin mixed his curveball with his sinker before finishing Marcell Ozuna with 92 mph fastball swinging strikeout to end the threat.

Atlanta managed to get a baserunner into scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings with one out, but was not able to push a run across, going 1 for 7 on the night.

"We have to be better. It still hurts when you get guys on, you can’t get them in,” Snitker said.

Dylan Crews added a pair of hits for Washington, including a run-scoring single, breaking an 0-for-10 slump. James Wood's on-base streak reached a career-high 12 games with two singles and an RBI.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: Reynaldo López returned to the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The MRI showed no structural damage. Snitker is hopeful to get López back before the end of the regular season.

“It was good,” Snitker said. “The MRI came back clean. He’s got inflammation. Hopefully we will calm it down, then give him a few days off, and then see where he’s at when he starts throwing again.”

The team recalled RHP Daysbel Hernández and selected the contract of 2B Cavan Biggio. ... INF Luke Williams was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. ... RHP Jimmy Herget was designated for assignment.

Nationals: RHP Trevor Williams (right flexor muscle strain, 15-day IL) is expected to make at least one more rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg. Martinez wants Williams to throw four innings and 65 pitches.

UP NEXT

The Braves have a day off Thursday and begin a four-game home series with the Dodgers on Friday night. RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-7, 3.78 ERA) will start the opener against LA's RHP Landon Knack (2-3, 3.00).

The Nationals homestand continues when they send LHP Mitchell Parker (7-9, 4.43) against the Marlins RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 7.40) on Thursday night.

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Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan follows through on a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia, left, is late with the tag as Washington Nationals' Jose Tena steals second base during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy, left, watches the flight of Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz's RBI single to right field during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Jose Tena is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried follows through during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals third baseman Ildemaro Vargas fields a grounder and throws out Atlanta Braves' Orlando Arcia during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Cavan Biggio, left, tags out Washington Nationals' Juan Yepez attempting a double during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' James Wood hits an infield single to drive in a run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin fields a louder by Atlanta Braves' Gio Urshela for the second out of the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin follows through during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen put women in many of the top roles on her new team for her next five-year tenure at the head of the bloc on Tuesday, despite the reluctance of many EU member states to give in to her demand for gender parity.

Von der Leyen put only two men in her top echelon with four women as vice presidents, including Kaja Kallas as foreign policy chief. Kallas was already agreed on by government leaders.

Von der Leyen on Tuesday added Spanish Socialist Teresa Ribera to lead the green transition, along with Ribera also becoming the competition czar. Finland's Henna Virkkunen was her pick for rule of law and digital leader, and Roxana Minzatu of Romania for social affairs leader.

The appointments of the Commission team — which veers to the right after the June elections saw a surge of far-right parties — still have to be confirmed.

The appointment as executive vice president of Raffaele Fitto of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard right Brothers of Italy party is bound to cause controversy during the parliamentary confirmation hearing in the coming weeks.

Also on Tuesday, von der Leyen gave French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne the industrial portfolio, after French heavyweight Thierry Breton resigned and openly criticized the EU chief for allegedly “questionable governance” on Monday,

It left France with a strong voice in the Commission, and many saw Breton's shock resignation more as a removal by von der Leyen of one of her most open internal critics after exerting pressure on French authorities.

Compounding such problems was the defiance of many of the 27 member states as von der Leyen struggled to get anywhere close to gender parity on her Commission team — they staunchly refused to give her a choice between a male and a female candidate.

She said that originally, EU nations only proposed 22% female candidates before she started to push for more.

“So I worked with the member states and we were able to improve the balance to 40% women and 60% men. And it shows that — as much as we have achieved — there is still so much more work to do,” von der Leyen said.

If she could not get full gender parity in numbers, von der Leyen made sure they were more than well represented in the top jobs.

After days of secret talks with individual European governments about their picks, von der Leyen huddled with the leaders of the political groups at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, to discuss the makeup of her college before making the final announcement.

Now attention will center on the hearings in the European Parliament, where each candidate can be rejected to force a member state to put another candidate forward.

All eyes are expected to be on Fitto.

Greens lawmaker Rasmus Andresen said the appointment of Fitto, a representative of a far-right party, to the post of executive vice president of the Commission is “completely incomprehensible.”

“Can an anti-European manage EU funds,” Andresen asked.

However, von der Leyen said the Commission team had to reflect Italy's weight as a founding member and major economy.

"The importance of Italy is reflected in the portfolio and the executive vice president. And I think the balance is also very well kept,” von der Leyen said.

Even if the Commission's makeup has hardly become the talk of bar rooms or barber shops across the vast EU of 450 million people, it has enthralled the upper echelons of politics and bureaucracy, as they sought to boost one candidate or undermine another.

The Commission proposes legislation for the EU’s 27 member countries and ensures that the rules governing the world’s biggest trading bloc are respected. It’s made up of a College of Commissioners with a range of portfolios similar to those of government ministers, including agriculture, economic, competition, security and migration policy.

The Commission is to start work on Nov. 1, but speculation is rife that it might not get down to business before January.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presents her new team for her next five-year tenure at the head of the bloc, during a press conference at the European Parliament, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Strasbourg. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presents her new team for her next five-year tenure at the head of the bloc, during a press conference at the European Parliament, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Strasbourg. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presents her new team for the next five-year, during a press conference at the European Parliament, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Strasbourg. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for a session at the European Parliament, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 in Strasbourg. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presents her new team for her next five-year tenure at the head of the bloc, during a press conference at the European Parliament, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Strasbourg.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, talk prior to the start of a session at the European Parliament, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 in Strasbourg. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, second right, speaks with from left, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton and European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi during a meeting of the College of Commissioners at EU headquarters in Brussels, on June 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)