Stephen Strasburg threw five scoreless innings in his return from a strained neck muscle, lifting the Washington Nationals to a 3-1 win over Atlanta on Tuesday.
Strasburg (4-5) gave up four hits, struck out six and walked one. Drew Storen navigated his way through a hairy ninth – loading the bases on singles by Andrelton Simmons and Kelly Johnson and a two-out walk to Jace Peterson – before getting Cameron Maybin to foul out to end the game.
Washington got on the board in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Anthony Rendon. A Denard Span RBI single in the third made it 2-0 Nats, and a run-scoring single by Michael Taylor made it 3-0.
Atlanta got a run back in the eighth on a Maybin solo homer.
Washington (38-33) has now won four straight and has a two and a half game lead over the New York Mets in the National League East.
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Chris Graham
