MLB: Atlanta 9, Washington 8

WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- Brooks Conrad hit the first home run of his career Friday, a pinch-hit, three-run blast that helped carry the Atlanta Braves to a 9-8 win over Washington.

Conrad's homer in the seventh inning, which came in his 20th at bat of the season, broke a 5-5 tie and the Braves held on to win their fifth straight game.

Chipper Jones, Yunel Escobar and Matt Diaz all had two RBI for the Braves, who pounded out 14 hits.

Boone Logan (1-0), who worked 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief, got the win. He replaced Kenshin Kawakami, who lasted just 4 1/3 innings while giving up five runs on six hits.

Rafael Soriano came on in the ninth to protect a three-run lead but he issued two walks to open the inning and Cristian Guzman came through with a two-run, two-out double to cut the Nationals' deficit to one.

With the tying run on second, Soriano got Josh Bard to ground out to first and picked up his eighth save.

Jesus Colome (1-1), the fourth Washington pitcher, gave up Conrad's homer and took the loss.

Washington's Adam Dunn hit the 299th home run of his career, but the Nationals lost their fourth straight and their sixth out of seven.