WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals erupted for six runs over the seventh and eighth innings to pull away from the Atlanta Braves 11-4 on Tuesday night at Nationals Park. Luis García Jr. led a 10-hit attack for Washington, going 4 for 5 with a double and three RBIs. His two-run double in the seventh broke a 4-4 tie. Pinch-hitter Curtis Mead sealed it with a three-run homer in the eighth. Winning pitcher Foster Griffin allowed three runs over six innings to improve to 3-0. Atlanta’s Reynaldo López took the loss. The Braves scored single runs in the second, third, fifth and eighth, with homers from Drake Baldwin and Eli White. José Suarez provided three scoreless innings of relief in the loss before Washington’s late rally. Attendance was 16,483. The game took 3 hours, 1 minute.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals erupted for six runs over the seventh and eighth innings Tuesday night, turning a tight contest into a rout and snapping the Atlanta Braves’ four-game winning streak with an 11-4 victory at Nationals Park. A crowd of 16,483 watched the Nationals (11-13) batter the Braves’ bullpen late to even the series after Atlanta (16-8) had taken the opener 9-4 a day earlier. The loss halted a stretch of strong play for the Braves, who had won 10 of their previous 12 games. The most important part of the game arrived in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Washington clinging to a 5-4 lead. What had been a methodical Nationals offensive effort suddenly exploded. After a walk and a single put two runners on, James Wood worked another walk to load the bases with one out for Luis García Jr. García, who finished the night 4-for-5, laced a double to center field off reliever Joel Payamps, clearing the bases and driving in two runs to stretch the lead to 8-4. Jacob Young followed with a productive groundout to plate Wood, capping the three-run outburst that effectively put the game out of reach. Any lingering doubt was erased in the eighth when Washington’s Curtis Mead launched a three-run homer off Ian Hamilton, punctuating the Nationals’ 10-hit offensive display. The game began in stark contrast to its finish. Washington jumped on Braves starter Reynaldo López immediately, scoring three times in the first inning without the benefit of an extra-base hit. Three walks and RBI singles by Jacob Young and Nasim Nuñez staked the Nationals to an early 3-0 lead. López, tagged with the loss, lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on five hits with five walks. Atlanta chipped away at Washington starter Foster Griffin, who earned the win to improve to 3-0. Mauricio Dubón doubled and scored on a Michael Harris II double in the second. In the third, Drake Baldwin connected for a solo home run, his sixth of the season, to make it 4-2. After Wood answered with a solo shot for Washington in the bottom of the second, Atlanta pulled even in the fifth on a rare homer from Eli White, his first of the year, knotting the score at 4-4. The Nationals reclaimed the lead for good in the fifth against Braves reliever Dylan Dodd. A single by Brady House and an intentional walk to Wood set the stage for García, who delivered an RBI single to center. While the Nationals’ offense found its groove late, their pitching staff effectively muted the heart of Atlanta’s powerful lineup. Braves stars Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson combined to go 1-for-9, with Olson going hitless. Griffin worked five innings, yielding four runs on six hits. The Washington bullpen quartet of Gus Varland, Robert Gsellman, Jordan Weems and Clayton Beeter then silenced Atlanta over the final four frames, allowing just two hits and one unearned run. José Suarez provided a bright spot for Atlanta with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out four. Dubón led the Braves’ eight-hit attack with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and a walk. The result defied pregame projections, which heavily favored Atlanta. Statistical models gave the Braves a 62.1 percent probability to win and projected an 8-5 victory. The combined 15 runs sailed over the pregame over/under line of 8.5. The two teams will meet again Wednesday night for the third game of the four-game series. Atlanta will look to rebound and maintain its lead in the National League East, while Washington aims to build momentum and climb back to .500. Following the series, the Braves will host Philadelphia for three games, while the Nationals embark on a road trip to face the Chicago White Sox.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves, owners of the National League’s best record, look to continue their strong start when they visit the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT at Nationals Park under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 52 degrees. The Braves (16-7) opened the series with a 9-4 victory on Monday, powered by a three-run homer from Matt Olson and a two-RBI performance from catcher Drake Baldwin. Atlanta has won seven of its last eight games. Atlanta will send left-hander Foster Griffin (2-0) to the mound. Washington will counter with right-hander Jake Irvin (1-3, 6.20 ERA). Irvin took the loss against the Braves on Monday, allowing three runs on three hits over five innings. A player to watch for Atlanta is right-hander Bryce Elder, who earned the win Monday with 6 2/3 solid innings. Over his last five starts, Elder has a 1.59 ERA, allowing just five earned runs in 30 innings pitched with 29 strikeouts. The Nationals (10-13) have lost three of their last four. In Monday’s loss, outfielder Daylen Lile provided a bright spot with a solo home run. Statistical projections heavily favor the visiting Braves. National Statistical’s game simulator predicts an 8-5 Atlanta victory, while its ELO rating system gives the Braves a 62.1% probability to win. Betting markets list Atlanta as a -1.5 run favorite with an over/under of 8.5 total runs. Following Tuesday’s contest, the series concludes Wednesday before both clubs embark on divisional play. Atlanta hosts Philadelphia for three games beginning Friday, while Washington travels to Chicago for a weekend series against the White Sox.