Braves blast past the Nationals 6-2 as Harris and Olson launch long home runs

ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II and Matt Olson hit long home runs and the Atlanta Braves pulled away from the Washington Nationals in a 6-2 victory on Friday night.

Olson was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored and Jim Jarvis was 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Mauricio Dubón had two hits and two runs scored for the first-place Braves, who are 10-5 since the All-Star break.

Nationals starter Foster Griffin (12-3) struggled in what could have been his final start for the Nationals. Trade speculation has surrounded the 30-year-old left-handed rookie, who entered with a 2.76 ERA in 21 starts. Griffin gave up six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, including the home runs to Olson and Harris.

Bryce Elder (7-6) recorded his 12th quality start of the season, allowing one run in six innings. He gave up four hits and three walks. Elieser Hernández threw three scoreless innings for his first career save.

Harris broke the game open with a 421-foot three-run homer in the sixth inning that landed inside the Chop House restaurant in right field and gave the Braves a 5-1 lead. It was his 20th home run of the season, matching his career-high.

Atlanta native C.J. Abrams hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his 28th. Andrés Chaparro hit a ninth inning home run, which gave the Nationals a franchise-record 50 home runs in the month of July.

The Nationals are 0 for 17 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series.

Washington first baseman Luis García Jr. left the game in the seventh inning with right knee soreness.

Braves RHP Reynaldo López (4-3, 3.64) will face Nationals RHP Miles Mikolas (3-7, 5.65) in the third game of a four-game series Saturday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin, right, reacts on the mound after giving up a three-run home run to Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a three-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Jim Jarvis hits an RBI single against the Washington Nationals during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Washington Nationals second baseman José Tena, right, catches fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves catcher Joey Bart, as Nationals right fielder Dylan Crews avoids a collision during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers scrimmaged in front of approximately 40,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night in their first appearance on their home turf since losing in the opening round of last season's playoffs.

Injuries continue to be the story of the team's training camp with three other players kept out of the action.

Tight end Tommy Tremble, defensive tackle Derrick Brown and linebacker Devin Lloyd all sat out.

Coach Dave Canales said after the scrimmage that Tremble had “general soreness” in his right knee on which he wore a sleeve on Friday night, and Brown and Lloyd were taking their regularly scheduled “veteran days.”

With starting offensive tackle Taylor Moton (blood clot) not participating in training camp and out of action until the regular season, linebacker Nic Scourton and wide receiver Chris Brazzell suffering season-ending knee injuries in the first week of training camp and tight end Mitchell Evans (ankle) carted off the practice field, injuries are a concern.

Canales admitted as much about the tight end group that even led to a signing.

With Brazzell being placed on injured reserve, the Panthers signed free agent tight end Chamon Metayer. A 6-foot-4, 262-pound rookie, Metayer had been in Pittsburgh's training camp after playing collegiately at Cincinnati, Colorado and Arizona State.

Due to injuries to two tight ends, Canales said the team chose not to sign a fourth quarterback in favor or fortifying the tight end position.

“We really felt like that’s a group where the reps could really build up on and we wanted to bring another person in,” said Canales, who said Evans could return to practice “in a couple of days.”

The other tight ends on the roster are Ja’Tavion Sanders, Felipe Franks, James Mitchell and Caden Prieskorn.

In his third year as head coach, Canales guided Carolina last season to an 8-9 regular-season record, an NFC South divisional title and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2017. The Panthers are seeking to win back-to-back divisional titles for the first time since they won three straight from 2013 to 2015.

Carolina opens its four-game preseason slate next Thursday at 8 p.m. in the annual NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The Panthers open their 17-game regular season schedule on Sept. 13 at home against the Chicago Bears.

Canales also said the team, which originally hoped Brazzell would return later this season, decided on season-ending surgery after much consultation.

“Just gathering all of the information and going through our normal process and making sure we get all eyes on it,” Canales said of the decision on Brazzell, a third-round draft pick out of Tennessee. “We have great people in the building and we also have great people around the league and specialists.

“We wanted to make sure we did the right thing for Chris longterm.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Casey Washington makes a catch during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik looks on during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Make-a-wish recipient Asher Harvey runs on to the field during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs a route during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)