ATLANTA — A.J. Pierzynski and Juan Uribe hit back-to-back home runs in a four-run fourth inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals, 4-1, on Wednesday night to end a streak of nine consecutive losses in the season series.
Rookie Matt Wisler allowed one hit in 5 1/3 scoreless innings to make up for a loss to the Nationals in his last start. Wisler had a run-scoring single in the big fourth inning, his first career hit.
Wisler (2-1) overcame five walks in his rematch against Nationals right-hander Doug Fister (3-4), who allowed four runs in six innings.
Pierzynski hit a two-run home run to right field off Fister before Uribe followed with his shot over the wall in center.
The Braves beat Washington for the first time since the opening game of the season series on April 27 — also against Fister.
Wisler and five relievers combined to allow only four hits. Jason Grilli had two strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning for his 22nd save.
The Nationals had runners on first and third with one out in the third and sixth innings. Each time the inning ended with a double-play grounder — from Yunel Escobar in the third and Wilson Ramos in the sixth.
Denard Span’s single off Nick Masset drove in Ian Desmond in the seventh. With two outs and runners on first and third, David Aardsma struck out Danny Espinosa.
The Nationals took only their second loss in their last 11 games, a span that included sweeps of the Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Braves sent nine batters to the plate in the four-run fourth. Cameron Maybin singled, stole second and scored on Pierzynski’s fifth home run. Uribe’s home run gave Atlanta back-to-back home runs for the first time since April 15 against Miami.
Kelly Johnson had an infield hit and scored from second on Wisler’s dribbler through the hole into right field.
The start of the game was delayed two hours, nine minutes by rain.
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