ATLANTA (Interstat) — Chris Sale earned his first win of the season against Washington, Ronald Acuña Jr. homered and the Atlanta Braves extended their winning streak to nine games with an 11-5 victory over the Nationals on Monday night.

A crowd of 35,248 at Truist Park watched the Braves continue their late-season surge, matching their longest win streak since 2023. The Nationals have now lost four of their last five.

The game began with a jolt as Washington’s Nasim Nuñez launched Sale’s fourth pitch of the game deep to right field for a solo home run, staking the Nationals to an early lead. The advantage was short-lived. In the bottom of the first, Acuña Jr. answered with a towering solo shot of his own to left-center field, cutting the deficit to one run.

Atlanta tied the game in the second inning on an RBI double from Michael Harris II that scored Ha-Seong Kim. The Braves then seized control with a five-run explosion in the third inning, sending 12 batters to the plate and chasing Washington starter MacKenzie Gore.

The inning was a testament to Atlanta’s patience and timely hitting. After a walk to Acuña Jr. and a single by Ozzie Albies, Gore loaded the bases by walking Kim. Drake Baldwin then delivered a two-run single to right field, giving Atlanta its first lead. Marcell Ozuna followed with an RBI single, and Harris II capped the rally with another run-scoring single. A bases-loaded walk to Acuña Jr. in his second plate appearance of the inning forced in the fifth run, putting the Braves ahead 7-1.

Washington chipped away. Dylan Crews hit a solo homer off Sale in the fourth inning to make it 7-2. The Nationals then mounted their most significant threat in the fifth, loading the bases with one out. After CJ Abrams struck out, Andrés Chaparro cleared the bases with a sharp three-run single to left field, pulling Washington within two runs at 8-5.

That was as close as the Nationals would get. Sale (6-5) managed to complete the fifth inning, earning the win despite allowing five runs on three hits and four walks while striking out six. It was just the second time this season he has allowed five earned runs.

The Braves’ bullpen slammed the door. José Suarez provided three scoreless innings of relief, scattering five hits and striking out two to record his first save of the season. Hunter Stratton added a perfect eighth inning.

Atlanta put the game out of reach with three more runs in the sixth inning. A sacrifice fly by Nacho Alvarez Jr. scored one run, and RBI singles from Jurickson Profar and Nick Allen provided the final margin.

Harris II led the Braves’ 14-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Acuña Jr. reached base four times via a home run, two walks and a hit-by-pitch, driving in two runs. For the Nationals, Nuñez had a strong night, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a walk and three runs scored. Chaparro drove in three runs on his fifth-inning single.

The loss went to Gore (5-15), who was charged with seven runs on seven hits and four walks over 2 1/3 innings. Washington reliever Shinnosuke Ogasawara provided a bright spot with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball.

The victory improved Atlanta’s record to 74-83, while Washington fell to 64-93. The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Tuesday night. The Braves’ nine-game winning streak is the longest current streak in the majors. The game time was 3 hours, 12 minutes.