MLB: Washington 4, Atlanta 2

ATLANTA, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Justin Maxwell hit a grand slam Wednesday, powering the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Maxwell's home run -- his third of the season -- came in the second inning when the Nationals pulled together three of the five hits and one of the two walks they managed in the game into four runs.

Washington starter John Lannan (8-7) scattered eight hits and three walks around six innings. He allowed both Atlanta runs. The Nationals bullpen allowed just two hits over three innings with Drew Storen pitching the ninth for his fourth save.

Atlanta's Mike Minor (3-1) suffered his first major league loss, giving up four hits and a walk in five innings of work but one of the hits was Maxwell's home run.

Michael Morris started the Washington rally with a one-out double. After Wilson Ramos reached on an infield hit, Alberto Gonzalez walked, loading the bases. Maxwell connected on the second pitch he saw from Minor and put it over the left-field wall for the 4-0 lead.

Atlanta scored in the fourth and fifth innings. Melky Cabrera singled in Matt Diaz for the first run and Martin Prado's two-out single scored Omar Infante for the other.