WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Jorge Sosa and Mike MacDougal combined to close the game with two scoreless innings Wednesday, preserving a 5-4 win for Washington over Florida.
Washington tied a season best by winning its fourth straight.
Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn hit home runs in the first inning, and the Nationals never trailed. It was Dunn's third homer in as many games and his 29th of the season.
Ronnie Belliard added a solo homer during a two-run fourth that gave Washington a 5-1 lead, and the Nationals held on from there.
John Lannan (8-8) gave up two runs on eight hits over six innings to get the win. Lannan was replaced to start the seventh by Sean Burnett, who allowed the first two batters in the inning to reach base.
Sosa came on and eventually gave up a two-run single, with the runs being charged to Burnett. Sosa, however, recorded a perfect eighth inning, and MacDougal worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save.
The loss went to Rick VandenHurk (1-1), who gave up five runs on seven hits in four frames.
