Freeman leads Braves past Strasburg 8-5

Stephen Strasburg had an opportunity to earn his career-high 16th victory if he could hold off the last-place Braves Friday night at Nat Park.

But Freddie Freeman had other ideas as the Braves stunned the Nationals 8-5. It was the Nats first loss to the Braves in eight straight meetings. They were 6-0 versus Atlanta this season before Friday's setback.

When Freeman faces off against the Nats, it usually hasn't worked out well for the Nats.

In his career, Freeman has hit .324 with 25 doubles, 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 91 games versus the Nationals.

Freeman also has done quite well against the right-hander Strasburg. The first baseman has hit .387 with two doubles, three homers and 10 RBIs.

Add another double and RBI to that total. Freeman laced a run-scoring double to right-center field in the first to give the Braves a 1-0 lead in the first.

And add another homer to his resume against Strasburg. Freeman smashed a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run shot in the fifth, giving the Braves a 5-3 lead.

Second baseman Jace Peterson connected on a solo homer in the second and the Braves extended their lead to 2-0.

The Nationals got on the board in the third. After a one-out walk to Ben Revere and a nice bunt sacrifice by Strasburg, Trea Turner offered a RBI single to cut the Braves advantage to 2-1.

The Nats took the lead in the fourth. Following a leadoff single by Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon crushed a 1-1 pitch for his 14th homer of the season, the wo-run shot lifted the Nats to a 3-2 lead.

After Freeman's three-run shot, Anthony Recker slammed a solo homer, his first of the season, coming off of reliever Matt Belisle, to give the Braves a 7-3 lead.

Brian Goodwin provided his first RBI single as a Nat in the sixth. Following a Murphy double and two outs later, Goodwin beat out a grounder to second base to cut the Braves advantage to 7-4.

Jayson Werth added an RBI double in the seventh to make it 8-5 Braves. He now has a 41-game on-base streak.

Turner finished with three singles, two stolen bases and a run scored.