WASHINGTON – Chien-Ming Wang had a strong finish to his comeback from shoulder surgery and drove in a run with his first career hit to lead the Washington Nationals over Atlanta 4-1 Saturday and stall the Braves’ wild-card run.
Atlanta lost for the 16th time in its last 26 games and remained two games ahead of St. Louis for the NL wild card with four games left.
Making his 11th start since returning from a two-year layoff, Wang (4-3) allowed one run and four hits in six innings and lowered his ERA to 4.04. He struck out four and walked none.
Wang’s RBI single off Brandon Beachy (7-3) capped a three-run fourth that put the Nationals ahead 4-0. He had been 0 for 32 at the plate in his career.
Wang never allowed more than one runner in an inning. He also got help from his defense. The best play came at the end of the third inning, when centerfielder Rick Ankiel made a running catch at the warning track with his back to the infield on a fly ball by Michael Bourn.
Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 41st save.
Freddie Freeman hit a leadoff homer in the fifth for Atlanta, tying Washington’s Danny Espinosa for the lead among NL rookies at 21.
Espinosa hit a two-run single in the fourth for Washington, which has won six of its last seven. Chris Marrero’s RBI single had put the Nationals ahead in the second.