WASHINGTON — Wilson Ramos tied a career high with four hits and also drove in two runs and Daniel Murphy added two hits, including a two-run homer in the first, as the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 Monday on a night that both starting pitchers were hit hard.
It was the first four-hit game for Ramos since Sept. 15, 2013 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Ramos had a two-out single in the seventh to drive in a run and give the Nationals a 6-4 advantage.
The Braves, who have lost 11 in a row in Washington (4-1), are now 0-6 and the only team without a win in the National League.
Washington starter Max Scherzer (1-0) was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth after he gave up four runs on six hits in six innings, with six strikeouts on 100 pitches. Bud Norris (0-2), the Braves starter, allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings.
Jonathan Papelbon, the Washington closer, appeared in back-to-back games for the first time this season and pitched the ninth for his fourth save in as many tries.
Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, three runs, a walk and sacrifice fly for the Nationals, and Michael A. Taylor had two hits from the leadoff spot after he entered the game hitting .063. The Braves’ Nick Markakis had two doubles, and Adonis Garcia also had two hits for Atlanta.
Bryce Harper of the Nationals went 0-for-3 with a walk and struck out for the first time this season, as he took a called third strike in the seventh against Atlanta lefty Eric O’Flaherty. Harper had not fanned in his first 16 official at-bats this season, and now has seven walks, two homers and two doubles.
Ramos gave the Nationals a 5-4 lead in the fifth with a solid RBI single with two outs against Norris. It was the third straight hit in the game for Ramos, who hit a career-low .229 last season.
The Nationals, in a game with a lot of early-inning offense, had tied the game at 4 as Danny Espinosa had a sacrifice fly in the third.
Markakis had two-run double with two outs in the second as the Braves took back the lead at 4-3 against Scherzer.
Washington had scored three runs in the first as Zimmerman had a sacrifice fly to drive in the first run and Murphy followed with a two-run homer to right to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead. It was the second homer of the year and first at home for Murphy, who signed as a free agent in January after spending all of his career with the New York Mets.
The Braves grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first as A.J. Pierzynski lined a two-run double with two outs to right-center to score Freddie Freeman and Garcia.
NOTES: Braves CF Mallex Smith made his big league debut and got his first hit in the second. He was shaken up in the fourth when he was hit in the face by his helmet, causing a big gash on his forehead that left him bleeding, as he was thrown out trying to steal second. Drew Stubbs took over in center field for the last of the fourth in place of Smith, who had a laceration over his left eye and is listed day-to-day. … The Braves put RHP Dan Winkler (fractured right elbow) on the 15-day disabled list and designated RHP Jose Ramirez for assignment Monday, and also selected the contracts of RHP Joel De La Cruz from Triple-A Gwinnett and LHP Hunter Cervenka from Double-A Mississippi. … The Braves on Monday recalled OF Mallex Smith from Gwinnett. Smith made his big league debut as he batted leadoff and played center field Monday. … Washington, with Monday’s game, played on back-to-back days for the first time this season. The Nationals had off days on April 5 and Friday, and did not play Saturday due to inclement weather in the nation’s capital. … Atlanta started the season 0-5 for the first time since 1988. … Washington was 10-0 at home last season against Atlanta and 23-9 since June 21, 2014 overall going into Monday.