ATLANTA, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse each went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI Tuesday, powering the Washington Nationals to a 9-2 win over Atlanta.
Zimmerman's three-run blast in the fifth put the Nationals ahead 5-1. Morse added a shot solo and two run-scoring hits as Washington took the opener of a three-game series.
Laynce Nix clubbed a two-run homer and Danny Espinoza chipped in with a solo shot for the victors, who beat Atlanta for the fourth time in six meetings.
Livan Hernandez (8-12) held the Braves to two runs on five hits over a seven-inning start, walking three and striking out one.
Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens (13-6) was lit up for six runs on eight hits in a six-inning effort en route to his third loss in four outings.
Justin Heyward drove in a pair of runs for the Braves, who came into the game with an 8 1/2 game lead over San Francisco in the National League wild-card chase.
