WASHINGTON (AP) — Chris Sale struck out nine while allowing three hits over eight innings, and Matt Olson hit a bases-loaded triple in the 10th to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Tuesday for a day-night doubleheader sweep.
Atlanta took the opener 6-3 as Olson homered for the fourth straight game and has won three in a row following a four-game slide.
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Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, right, celebrates with third base coach Fredi González (86) after hitting a triple to drive in three runs during the 10th inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson runs towards home to score on a sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies during the 10th inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore throws during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile (51) makes a catch for the out on a fly ball by Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale throws during the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington (62-90) reached 90 losses for the fifth straight year, a first for the Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise.
After the start of the second game was delayed two hours by rain, Sale walked none and lowered his ERA to 2.35. Tyler Kiney (6-3) followed with two innings of two-hit relief.
Drake Baldwin hit a go-ahead double off Mason Thompson (1-1) that went over right fielder Dylan Crews. Olson, who had been 0 for 4, hit his second triple this year and Ozzie Albies added a sacrifice fly.
With runners on the corners, Ronald Acuña Jr. made a leaping catch at the wall to end the ninth and send the game to extra innings.
This was the ninth MLB game this season to enter extra innings scoreless.
Braves RHP Hurston Waldrep (4-1, 2.78) faces Nationals RHP Brad Lord (5-8, 4.21) on Wednesday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, right, celebrates with third base coach Fredi González (86) after hitting a triple to drive in three runs during the 10th inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson runs towards home to score on a sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies during the 10th inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore throws during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile (51) makes a catch for the out on a fly ball by Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale throws during the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
BOSTON (AP) — When Zdeno Chara signed with the Boston Bruins in 2006, the No. 3 he wore early in his career had already been retired by the Original Six franchise.
So he picked No. 33 without giving it much thought.
“Little did I know how meaningful 33 was,” Chara said on Thursday night before his number was raised to the TD Garden rafters not far from where Larry Bird's No. 33 already hangs in Celtics green.
It is the 13th number retired by the Bruins, and the latest in a collection of Hall of Fame defenseman that runs from Eddie Shore to Bobby Orr to Raymond Bourque.
“It's a huge honor,” Chara told reporters. "I can’t explain to you how honored I feel. I’m humbled about being selected to be one of the numbers being retired. Being with that history, forever."
The 2009 Norris Trophy winner and a 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Chara spent 14 of his 24 NHL seasons in Boston, leading the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship. His 1,680 games is the most of any NHL defenseman; at 6 feet, 9 inches (2.06m), he is the tallest player in league history, and his 108.8 mph (175.1 kmh) slap shot in the 2012 skills competition remains the NHL record.
But his teammates and other Bruins attending Thursday's ceremony said Chara's biggest contribution was signing with a team that hadn't won a playoff series in six years — “the best decision I ever made” — and turning them into champions.
“Things really changed when Zee came here as a free agent,” Bourque said. "From that point on, the culture and everything that comes with that, and the success and the run that they had, he was such a big part of that.
“He’s a legend,” Bourque said. “He really deserves to be up there.”
Bourque was among the former Bruins greats in attendance, along with Orr — both of them, like Chara, Boston defensemen who finished their careers elsewhere on their way to the Hall of Fame. They arrived via gold carpet that led them past adoring fans and the statue of Orr flying through the air following his Cup-winning goal in the 1970 finals.
Other fellow retired number honorees in attendance included Cam Neely, Willie O’Ree, Rick Middleton, Terry O'Reilly and John Bucyk. The current Bruins sat on the bench, all wearing Chara jerseys.
Five members of the 2011 roster — Patrice Bergeron, Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask — carried the retired number onto the ice, and teammate Andrew Ference served as emcee.
In his speech, Chara read the names of every player on the Bruins last Cup winners. Asked why, he said after: “Without championships, you are not going to be successful, you’re not going to be recognized.
"The championships, that’s what they do. They raise everyone, they extend careers for everyone,” he explained. "They create dynasties. They create stories. They create memories. They created what we’re experiencing tonight.
"It’s very simple: Once you win the championship, everything gets so much better for everyone. And the most beautiful thing about it: You create extended families with each other. It’s true. You have bonds, you have friendships that are now still forever. It’s amazing; it’s like you’re seeing your brother. You trust the person; you know everything about them. And anytime anybody needs something, you’re there for them.
“That’s what winning championships do,” he said. “Not just for a career, but for the rest of your lives, it means something very special.”
The ceremony at center ice featured a “Big Zee” ice sculpture flanking the podium and a large No. 33 behind it. Fans were asked to get in their seats two hours early, and the full TD Garden erupted in a giant shout of “Zee!” followed by an extended cheer of “Thank you, Chara!”
A highlight video featured former Bruins Brad Marchand and current coach Marco Sturm, Chara's teammate from 2006-10. Many of them spoke of the way Chara led by example.
“He wasn’t really a ‘Rah, rah!’ guy,” former Bruins forward and current team president Neely said, “but when he spoke, it was with a purpose.”
And so, when it was time to raise his No. 33 to the rafters, Chara stood by with his wife, Tatiana, while their children — Zack, Ben and Elliz — pulled the ropes.
“That’s the biggest reward for me: To see my children and my family doing it instead of me. I think I get better joy watching them doing it than the joy of me doing it because it's so much more meaningful,” he explained. "They deserve that more than me."
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara speaks during his number retirement ceremony before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara leads his family over to his number "33" to raise it to the rafters before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, center, waves to the crowd during his number retirement ceremony, as Bruins' players with their number already retired, from left, Willie O'Ree, Rick Middleton, Terrry O'Reilly, Cam Neely, emcee Andrew Ferrance and Bobby Orr look on before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara's number "33" is raised to the rafters at TD Garden before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Bobby Orr applauds, left bottom, as former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara waves to the crowd during his number retirement ceremony before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
