SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. (Interstat) — In a late-season matchup that defied pregame projections, the Washington Nationals used a pair of home runs from James Wood and a resilient pitching effort to edge the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Wednesday evening at Truist Park.

The Nationals, who had dropped the first two games of the series, methodically built a lead and then withstood a late Braves rally, including a ninth-inning solo home run, to secure the victory. The win improved Washington’s record to 65-94, while Atlanta fell to 75-84.

Wood, the Nationals’ designated hitter, was the offensive catalyst, launching two solo home runs to center field. His first blast came in the sixth inning, and his second, his 30th of the season, provided a critical insurance run in the eighth.

Washington struck first against Braves starter Bryce Elder in the opening inning. CJ Abrams led off with a double and, after a Josh Bell single, scored on a line-drive single from Daylen Lile. The Nationals added to their lead in the fourth when Bell connected for his 21st home run, a solo shot to center field that made it 2-0.

The Nationals’ pitching staff, led by a strong outing from Andrew Alvarez, kept the Braves’ offense in check for most of the game. Alvarez, in a key performance, worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. He navigated through traffic, including a bases-loaded situation in the fifth inning, before handing the game over to the bullpen.

Atlanta finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Drake Baldwin hit a solo home run to right-center field off reliever Mitchell Parker, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Parker was credited with the win, improving to 9-16, while Elder took the loss, falling to 8-11 after allowing three runs on six hits over seven innings of work.

Wood’s second homer in the eighth inning, this one off Braves reliever Tyler Kinley, restored Washington’s three-run cushion. That run proved vital when Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna answered with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the eighth, making it 4-2.

In the ninth, Nationals closer Jose A. Ferrer entered to seal the game but was immediately greeted by a pinch-hit home run from Eli White, bringing the Braves within a run and energizing the crowd of 32,898. Ferrer then struck out Jurickson Profar and Matt Olson, but Ronald Acuña Jr. kept the game alive with an infield single that required a successful challenge by the Braves after an initial out call.

The game ended on another challenged play. Drake Baldwin hit a sharp grounder to second base, and Luis García Jr. made the play to first baseman Andrés Chaparro. The initial call was safe, but the Nationals challenged, and the replay review confirmed the out, giving Ferrer his 10th save of the season and ending the 2-hour, 28-minute contest.

Clayton Beeter contributed a dominant relief inning for Washington in the seventh, striking out all three Braves batters he faced.

The victory allowed the Nationals to avoid a series sweep as both teams now look ahead to their final series of the season this weekend. Washington will host the Chicago White Sox, while Atlanta will welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Truist Park. The result was an upset according to pregame metrics; Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-3 Braves victory, and Atlanta’s ELO rating gave them a 65.7% probability to win.