WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive early innings and a relentless Washington comeback attempt, the Atlanta Braves held on to defeat the Washington Nationals 8-6 on Wednesday night at Nationals Park, securing a series victory.

The contest, which saw the teams combine for 10 runs in the first two innings, was ultimately decided by Atlanta’s power surge, led by a two-homer performance from center fielder Michael Harris II.

The Braves struck immediately against Nationals starter Zack Littell. After a quick first out, designated hitter Drake Baldwin launched Littell’s second pitch of the game deep to right-center field for a solo home run, his seventh of the season, giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead.

Washington’s response in the bottom half of the inning was swift and punishing against Braves opener Martín Pérez. James Wood and Luis García Jr. led off with singles. After two strikeouts, rookie left fielder Daylen Lile stepped in with two on and two out. Lile connected on a Pérez offering, driving it over the center field wall for a three-run homer, his third, to vault the Nationals ahead 3-1. The rally continued as Jacob Young singled and scored on a double by Jorbit Vivas, extending the lead to 4-1.

Undeterred, Atlanta erased the deficit and more in the top of the second. Ozzie Albies reached on a fielding error by Vivas at second base. Harris II then followed by crushing a Littell fastball to right field for a two-run homer, cutting the lead to 4-3. The Braves were not done. Singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Jonah Heim set the stage for Ronald Acuña Jr., whose sacrifice fly to right field tied the game. A single by Baldwin reloaded the bases, but Littell escaped further damage by getting Matt Olson to pop out.

Harris II struck again in the third inning, leading off the frame with his second homer of the night and sixth of the year, a solo shot to left-center that put Atlanta back in front 5-4.

The Braves broke the game open in the fourth. With two on and two out after a pair of walks, Olson atoned for his earlier out by demolishing a three-run homer to right field off reliever Julian Fernández, his seventh of the season, pushing the Atlanta advantage to 8-4.

From there, the game settled into a battle of bullpens. Washington began chipping away in the sixth against Braves reliever Dylan Lee. Pinch-hitter Joey Wiemer led off with a solo homer to left-center, his third. Two outs later, Wood launched a mammoth solo shot of his own, his ninth, to left-center, pulling the Nationals within two runs at 8-6.

Washington threatened again in the eighth against Lee. With one out, Wiemer walked. After a fly out, the Braves intentionally walked the red-hot Wood to put the potential go-ahead run on base. Lee, however, bore down and struck out Curtis Mead swinging to end the inning.

Robert Suarez entered for Atlanta in the ninth to close it. Brady House led off with a single, bringing the tying run to the plate. Suarez induced a pop out from CJ Abrams and then a fielder’s choice force out from Lile, leaving a runner on first with two outs. Jacob Young then lifted a fly ball to deep center field, where Harris II settled under it for the final out, giving Suarez his second save of the season.

The most important part of the game was Atlanta’s immediate and powerful response to Washington’s four-run first inning. Rather than letting the early deficit deflate them, the Braves answered with three runs in the second, highlighted by Harris II’s first two-run homer, and then seized control with additional homers from Harris II and Olson. This sustained power display in the face of Washington’s early rally established a lead that, despite the Nationals’ persistent efforts, they could not overcome.

Dylan Lee earned the win for Atlanta, pitching 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits. He is now 1-0. Zack Littell took the loss for Washington, surrendering seven runs, only four earned, on seven hits over three innings. He fell to 0-3.

Harris II was the clear star for Atlanta, going 2 for 4 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored, continuing a torrid stretch at the plate. For Washington, Lile’s three-run homer in the first set the early tone, and Wood added three hits, including his ninth homer.

The game lasted 2 hours and 31 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 16,308. With the win, Atlanta improved to 17-8, while Washington dropped to 11-14. The two teams conclude their four-game series on Thursday.