WASHINGTON — The Atlanta Braves used home runs from Jace Peterson, Freddie Freeman and Anthony Recker to beat the Nationals 8-5 on Friday night, snapping a 14-game losing streak in Washington.
Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) allowed four runs over 5 2-3 innings as Atlanta won for the 11th time in 17 games.
Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 13 tries.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg (15-3) struggled at home again, surrendering six runs in 5 1-3 innings. The National League leader in victories has a 9.00 ERA over 16 innings in his last three outings (all losses) at Nationals Park.
Atlanta had not won in Washington since Sept. 10, 2014, and was 0-6 against the NL East leaders this season. But they generated plenty of offense in the opener of a three-game series.
The Braves scored in the first and second innings before the Nationals rallied for three runs. But after Foltynewicz doubled to lead off the fifth and Erick Aybar singled with one out, Freeman smacked his 22nd home run.
Strasburg left trailing 5-3 with a man on base in the sixth, and Recker hit reliever Matt Belisle's first pitch deep to left for his first homer this season.
Anthony Rendon hit his 14th homer for Washington.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: Atlanta selected the contract of RHP Jason Hursh from Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled RHP Akeel Morris from Double-A Mississippi, optioned RHP Brandon Cunniff to Gwinnett and designated RHP Roberto Hernandez for assignment. Cunniff was 1-0 with a 7.36 ERA in three games, while the veteran Hernandez was 1-1 with an 8.00 ERA in two starts this month.
Nationals: OF Bryce Harper, who has not played since Saturday, remained out of the lineup with a stiff neck. Manager Dusty Baker said the team might have to make a decision about placing Harper on the DL in the next few days, but has not discussed the possibility based on his progress. Brian Goodwin started in right in Harper's place.
UP NEXT
Braves: Rookie RHP Rob Whalen (1-0, 5.73 ERA) makes his third career start and first against Washington.
Nationals: The club plans to recall RHP Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 9.35) to start Saturday. Lopez did not last more than 4 2-3 innings in either of his first two career starts.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/8/434078/braves-defeat-nationals-earn-first-win-in-dc-since-2014