Doug Fister was tagged for five runs on 10 hits in five and two-thirds innings, and Washington was never really in it in an 8-4 loss to National League East rival Atlanta on Monday, the sixth loss in a row for the Nats.
The preseason World Series favorite falls to six games below .500 with the loss.
A two-run Kelly Johnson homer keyed a three-run sixth-inning Braves rally that chased Fister (1-1). Johnson had three hits and three runs batted in for Atlanta.
Eric Stutts (1-1) earned the win with a solid start, giving up two runs on four hits in six and a third innings.