WASHINGTON — Dallas Keuchel labored through five innings in his Atlanta debut, coughing up a 3-0 lead as the Braves lost 4-3 to the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
Keuchel signed a one-year, $13 million contract on July 7 with the NL East-leading Braves, who hope he can help lead them to the postseason. The left-hander then made two minor league starts before he was recalled Friday from Double-A Mississippi.
It was the first major league appearance for Keuchel since he started Game 3 of last year’s AL Championship Series for the Houston Astros.
Keuchel (0-1) never retired Washington in order and gave up four runs, three earned, on eight hits. He hit two batters.
Atlanta led 3-0 in the fourth thanks to a two-run homer by Austin Riley and an RBI double by Freddie Freeman, who has now driven in a run in nine straight games, matching a franchise record.
In the bottom half, Victor Robles lined an RBI triple and scored on Michael A. Taylor’s squeeze bunt. Yan Gomes homered to tie it at 3-3.
Washington pushed ahead in the fifth, when Juan Soto led off with a triple and Anthony Rendon singled him home.
Stephen Strasburg (8-4) allowed three runs in six innings. With closer Sean Doolittle having worked two consecutive nights, Wander Suero allowed the first two runners to reach in the ninth before retiring the side for his first career save. Robles made a sliding catch in right field for the last out.
