Rays beat the Nationals 5-2 to open a 10-game homestand

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jonathan Aranda hit a three-run home run, Griffin Jax allowed two runs in five innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Friday night to open a 10-game homestand.

Tampa Bay, coming off a 1-5 trip to California, improved to a MLB-best 25-9 at home.

Washington, winners of five consecutive road series, dropped consecutive games for the first time since June 1-3. Miles Mikolas (2-6) took the loss for Washington after allowing five runs in six innings.

Jax (2-6) picked up his first victory since April 18 after allowing four hits and striking out five. Steven Matz, Kevin Kelly and Garret Clevinger combined to pitch three scoreless innings out of the bullpen before Bryan Baker retired the side in order in the ninth for his 19th save of the season.

Washington built a 2-0 lead off solo home runs from C.J. Abrams in the second and Luis Garcia, Jr. in the third along with a pair of shutout innings from opener P.J. Poulin, who stepped in after scheduled starter Cade Cavalli was scratched due to illness.

Aranda sliced an opposite-field, three-run home run off Mikolas that caromed off the foul pole in left field to put the Rays in front 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Taylor Walls singled in Richie Palacios in the fourth with his 300th career hit to put Tampa Bay up 4-2.

Jonny DeLuca hit a solo home run in the eighth after being reinstated from the 10-day disabled list before the game.

Washington RHP Cade Cavalli (4-4, 3.98 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against LHP Ian Seymour (3-0, 4.93).

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Friday, June 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Washington Nationals Luis García Jr. celebrates after his home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, June 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson catches a line drive hit by Washington Nationals' Jorbit Vivas, not pictured, during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates after his three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, June 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca celebrates as he rounds the bases after his home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Friday, June 19, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

ATLANTA (AP) — Jacob Misoriowski lost for the first time in two months as the Atlanta Braves scored two runs against the Milwaukee Brewers’ ace and Mike Yastrzemski hit a home run in a 3-2 victory in the first game of a three-game series between NL division leaders Friday night.

Misiorowski (8-3) had given up just one earned run in eight starts entering the game, but Mauricio Dubón hit a two-run single in the sixth inning off the ace that gave the Braves a 2-1 lead. It was the first time since April 25 Misiorowski gave up multiple runs.

Braves right fielder Eli White threw out Jackson Chourio by inches at home plate in the ninth inning to preserve a 3-2 lead, and Raisel Iglesias picked up his 15th save when he struck out William Contreras to end the game.

Martín Pérez (6-3) won his fourth straight start, giving up one run over six innings with five strikeouts. The left-hander who was designated for assignment but then re-signed with the Braves in April lowered his ERA to 2.78.

Yastrzemski's home run to right field in the seventh inning was his fourth of the season.

Garrett Mitchell was 2 for 4 and Brice Turang drove in a run with an infield single in the third inning for the Brewers, who had won 12 consecutive series openers.

Misiorowski gave up two runs in six innings, striking out seven. His league-leading ERA rose to 1.45. He threw 54 pitches of at least 100 mph.

The Braves broke through against Misiorowski in the sixth. An infield single by Jorge Mateo, a single by Ozzie Albies and a nine-pitch walk by Matt Olson loaded the bases before Dubón hit a two-out fastball to left field.

Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.47 ERA) opposes Braves LHP Chris Sale (8-5, 2.30) in the second game of the series on Saturday.

This story has been updated to correct thes pelling of “Chourio” in 3rd graf.

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Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, center, scores a run as Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, right, and Braves' Jorge Mateo, left, look on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, center, scores a run as Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, right, and Braves' Jorge Mateo, left, look on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Martín Pérez delivers to a Milwaukee Brewers batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, right, delivers a pitch to Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)