ATLANTA – Two milestone home runs – Chipper Jones’ 450th and Derek Lowe’s first – gave Atlanta the early lead and Lowe combined with three relievers on a three-hitter as the Braves beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 41st save, setting a major league rookie record.
Ian Desmond’s singles in the first and third innings were the only hits allowed by Lowe (9-12) until Michael Morse led off the seventh with a homer.
John Lannan (8-11) gave up seven hits and three runs, two earned, in seven innings as his streak of five straight wins over the Braves ended.
Jones hit his 14th homer in the second inning. Lowe, 38, lined a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left field in the third inning for his first homer in his 405th career at-bat.