ATLANTA -- Right fielder Kelly Johnson hit a homer and drove in three runs to help left-hander Eric Stults earn his first victory for the Atlanta Braves in an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday.

Johnson, who made the club in spring training as a minor league free agent, was 3-for-4 with his third homer. His two-run shot in the sixth inning sparked a three-run rally that extended Atlanta's 2-1 lead. He added an RBI single in the two-run seventh.

Stults (1-1) scattered four hits, struck out three and walked three in his fourth start. In his last two games, Stults has allowed three runs in 12 1/3 innings. It was the sixth straight loss for the Nationals.

The Braves broke the game open by scoring three times in the sixth against starting pitcher Doug Fister (1-1). Johnson slammed a two-run homer to right field with one out. Atlanta added another run when second baseman Jace Peterson singled and went to third when Fister's pickoff attempt was low and away. Peterson scored on a squeeze bunt by center fielder Eric Young Jr.

Stults got some help from the bullpen. After allowing two base runners with one out in the seventh, he was relieved by right-hander Cody Martin, who hit pinch hitter Reed Johnson to load the bases. Martin allowed a sacrifice fly to center fielder Denard Span and struck out first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to end the threat.

Washington scored twice against Martin in the eighth inning. Right fielder Bryce Harper walked and scored on second baseman Dan Uggla's triple. A throwing error by Peterson on the relay allowed Uggla to score.

Jim Johnson got the final two outs in the eighth and Luis Avilan worked around an error to pitch a scoreless ninth.

It was the first time Atlanta has beaten Fister, who entered the game with a career 1.23 ERA against the Braves. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits and two walks, with three strikeouts.

Atlanta tacked on two runs in the seventh against reliever Rafael Martin on a sacrifice fly by catcher A.J. Pierzynski and a single by Kelly Johnson. The Braves scored once in the eighth against Aaron Barrett on Chris Johnson's RBI single.

The Braves struck for a run in the first inning to break an 18-inning scoreless streak against Fister. Right fielder Nick Markakis walked and went to third on a single by first baseman Freddie Freeman, who moved up to second when Harper mishandled the ball. Markakis scored on the next pitch when Pierzynski lofted a

sacrifice fly to left field.

The Nationals tied the game in the third. Second baseman Danny Espinosa led off with a double and took third on Fister's sacrifice. After Span grounded to third, Zimmerman bounced a double off the scoreboard in left field to score Espinosa.

Atlanta reclaimed the lead in the fourth. Third baseman Alberto Callaspo singled and went to third on right fielder Kelly Johnson's well-placed hit-and-run single that just eluded Espinosa. Callaspo scored when Peterson hit the first pitch to center field for a sacrifice fly.

Washington third baseman Yunel Escobar was injured in the fifth inning and had to leave the game. He was spiked on the left hand when shortstop Andrelton Simmons slid into the bag and knocked away Escobar's glove and the baseball.

Simmons was unable to score when Freeman was called out on a check swing. Freeman was ejected by third base umpire John Hirschbeck for disputing the call.

NOTES: The Nationals gave 3B Anthony Rendon the night off from his rehab stint because he felt fatigue. Rendon is on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee sprain. He is 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run scored in two rehab games for Double-A Harrisburg. ... Atlanta inserted 3B Alberto Callaspo in the fifth spot in

the order for the first time. He is the sixth player to bat fifth for the Braves this season. Atlanta u