WASHINGTON — Rick Ankiel hit two home runs and Livan Hernandez allowed one run over six innings and drove in a run to lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.
Ankiel, who played for the Braves last year, led off the bottom of the first inning with a homer to center field. It was the second time this season the Nationals’ opening hitter homered — Jayson Werth did so on June 16 against St. Louis.
His homer in the fifth inning landed deep in the second deck in left field. It was the fifth multihomer game of his career, and the solo shots gave Ankiel five home runs this season.
Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla homered twice, in the second and ninth innings, giving him 22 this season. Uggla went 3-for-4, extending his careerlong hitting streak to 23 games.
Hernandez (6-10) allowed six hits and did not walk a batter as the Nationals won their third straight game. Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 27th save.