WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Matt Olson’s three-run homer ignited a dormant Atlanta offense and Bryce Elder delivered a steady start as the Braves pulled away from the Washington Nationals 9-4 on Monday night at Nationals Park.

A crowd of 12,022 watched the Braves, who entered as heavy favorites, shake off a shaky first inning by their starter and methodically dismantle the Nationals with a pair of big innings to secure their fourth consecutive victory.

The most important sequence of the game arrived in the top of the fourth inning, transforming a one-run deficit into a lead Atlanta would not relinquish. After being held hitless through three innings by Washington starter Jake Irvin, the Braves’ rally began with Ronald Acuña Jr. getting hit by a pitch. Catcher Drake Baldwin followed with a sharp single to center, setting the stage for Olson. The first baseman then crushed a 2-0 offering from Irvin deep to center field for a three-run homer, his sixth of the season, erasing Washington’s early advantage and giving Atlanta a 3-2 lead.

Elder, named the top star for Atlanta, weathered a difficult first inning to earn his third win against one loss. The right-hander allowed a two-out, two-run single to Jacob Young in the first, putting the Braves in an early hole. He settled in thereafter, limiting the Nationals to just three hits over 6 2/3 innings. Elder surrendered three runs, all earned, walked two and struck out six. His performance continued a strong recent run, following a scoreless outing against Miami last week.

Irvin took the loss for Washington, falling to 1-3. He was effective early but was undone by the fourth-inning homer to Olson. His final line showed three runs allowed on three hits over five innings, with four strikeouts.

Atlanta broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues by the Nationals. Mike Yastrzemski reached on a throwing error by second baseman Nasim Nuñez to begin the frame. After Acuña was hit by a pitch again, Baldwin laced a two-run double down the left-field line off reliever Brad Lord. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II followed with run-scoring singles, and another run crossed on a fielder’s choice, stretching the Atlanta lead to 8-3.

Washington managed a single run in the bottom of the sixth on an error by Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley, but could muster no sustained offense against the Braves’ bullpen. Tyler Kinley struck out two in a perfect seventh, Aaron Bummer recorded a key out to end the seventh, and Joel Payamps pitched a scoreless eighth.

The Braves added two insurance runs in the ninth on a bunt single by Eli White and a sacrifice fly from Olson, his fourth RBI of the night.

For Washington, Daylen Lile provided a bright spot with a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning, his second of the year. Young finished with two RBIs on his first-inning single.

Atlanta’s bullpen combination of Kinley, Bummer and Payamps retired the final seven Nationals batters in order to seal the victory. The Braves improved to 16-7 with the win, maintaining their strong early-season form. The Nationals fell to 10-13.

The game time was 2 hours, 28 minutes. The teams will continue their four-game series on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.