MLB: Atlanta 3, Washington 1

ATLANTA, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Derek Lowe struck out six and hit the first home run of his 15-year major league career Wednesday in bringing the Atlanta Braves a 3-1 win over Washington.

Craig Kimbrel finished off an outstanding effort by the Atlanta relief corps, setting an all-time rookie save record in the process.

Atlanta, which will go into the final month of the season with a commanding lead in the National League wild-card race, snapped a two-game skid.

Lowe (9-12) gave up the only three hits the Nationals managed. One of them was a leadoff homer by Michael Morse in the seventh and Lowe was promptly replaced by Eric O'Flaherty, who combined with Jonny Venters and Kimbrel to retire the last nine Washington batters in order.

It was the 41st save of the season for Kimbrel, one more than the rookie record set last year by Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers.

Chipper Jones put Atlanta in front with a homer in the second and Lowe, leading off the third, hit a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left off John Lannan. Lowe's first career home run came in his 425th at-bat.

Lowe spent the first eight years of his career in the American League, during which he came to the plate only 20 times.

Lannan (8-11) allowed all three runs on seven hits in seven innings to take the loss.