Washington Nationals’ lineup for today’s series finale with the Atlanta Braves...

Yes, the Washington Nationals lost 11-8 last night, in a key game with the Atlanta Braves, but Davey Martinez’s club did win the series opener, so it’s a rubber match today as the NL East rivals play the third game of three in D.C. Martinez’s squad kept fighting after falling behind 9-0, and ended up scoring eight runs to make it closer than the division leaders expected it to be in the end.

“We battled back and to me that’s the sign of a good team,” Martinez said after the loss, “so we got an early start tomorrow... let’s get some quick rest, and come back tomorrow, we’ve got [Aníbal] Sánchez pitching, we’re swinging the bats, so let’s keep it going.”

With the Nationals chipping away at the Braves’ lead, manager Brian Snitker had to bring on three different relievers after starter Julio Teheran was done, with A.J. Minter, who gave up a run and two walks, Anthony Swarzak (2 H, 2 ER), and Luke Jackson (3 H, 3 R) having to fight their way through to the end of the game.

“It was great,” Trea Turner said of his team’s fight after he went 1 for 4 with a home run in the loss.

“I’ve said it all year,” the shortstop added, “... we’ve got a deep lineup, compete, don’t give at bats away, and for them to bring in three of their better pitches and us still put those at bats together in kind of a lopsided game was awesome, and who knows, I think because we scored those runs today it could affect the game tomorrow and hopefully in a positive manner for us.”

The Nationals got beat up a bit last night, but they still have an opportunity to make it 2 of 3, which is how Turner chose to frame it after the game.

“A chance to win a series,” he said. “Both teams, any time you can win a series at this point in the year it’s good. So going to have a tough game tomorrow against [Mike] Soroka, but I think we’ve got a shot and hopefully we can get the series win.”

HERE’S THE NATS’ LINEUP FOR THE SERIES FINALE WITH THE BRAVES: