Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Andruw Jones hit his 43rd home run of the year and had five RBI to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals, 5-3, in the first game of a doubleheader at Turner Field.

Horacio Ramirez (11-8) recorded the win for Atlanta, allowing three runs on eight hits over seven innings. Ramirez was winless in his last three starts (0-1).

Marcus Giles scored two runs and Ryan Langerhans chipped in two hits for the Braves, who won for the fourth time in six games. Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save of the year.

Marlon Byrd was 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored for Washington, which has lost five of its last eight games.

Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first. Byrd singled to start the game and went to second on Nick Johnson's walk. Jose Guillen followed with a one-run single to give Washington the early advantage.

Johnson went to third on Guillen's hit but was left stranded after Preston Wilson popped up to short and Vinny Castilla grounded out.

The Braves fired right back in the home half of the first after Andruw Jones tagged Esteban Loaiza (9-10) with a three-run homer to put Atlanta up. After Giles hit a one-out single and Chipper Jones walked, Andruw Jones took Loaiza's 2-0 offering over the left-field wall to plate the runs.

The Nationals tied the game after scoring runs in the third and fifth innings.

Byrd doubled to start the third inning and moved to third on Jamey Carroll's sacrifice bunt. Johnson then grounded out to Giles at second, allowing Byrd to score. Byrd then hit a solo home run in the fifth to tie it.

It was Byrd's first home run of the year.

The game didn't stay tied long as Atlanta answered right back in the bottom of the fifth. The Braves loaded the bases with one out after Langerhans doubled, Giles walked and Chipper Jones singled. Andrew Jones then laced a two-run single to right, knocking in two runs, staking the Braves to a 5-3 lead and ending Loaiza's night.

Loaiza went only 4 1/3 innings while giving up five runs on seven hits and walking four.

Mike Stanton came on in relief and got Adam LaRoche to fly out and Jeff Francoeur to strike out, leaving two men on base.

The Nationals threatened in the eighth when Chris Reitsma came on in relief and walked Johnson. Guillen then reached on a Chipper Jones' fielding error to put two men on with no outs.

After Wilson struck out, Farnsworth was brought into the game to spell Reitsma. Guillen was then picked off first base and Vinny Castilla grounded out to end the inning.

Game Notes

Nationals manager Frank Robinson turned 70 years old today...The Nationals are 1-8-1 in last 10 season series against the Braves...This is the seventh doubleheader in Turner Field history...Ramirez is now 3-3 lifetime against the Nationals...Loaiza lost his 99th career game.