ATLANTA _ The Nationals tried to use a familiar script to beat the Braves on Sunday at Turner Field. They jumped on starting pitcher Joel De La Cruz, withstood a comeback attempt and then tacked on more runs in the later innings.
Finally, Jace Peterson helped the Braves changed the story.
The Braves came back to tie the game in the eighth inning and won 7-6 on Peterson's walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th. The Braves ended their losing streak at seven games and won for just the second time in 14 games this season against the Nationals.
The Nationals (73-50) had turned back late Braves rallies to win on Friday and Saturday. This time the Braves (45-79) overcame deficits of 4-0 and 6-3 to earn their second victory in 11 games.
The Nationals touched De La Cruz for four runs in the third inning. After the Braves pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the inning against lefty Gio Gonzalez, Nationals outfielder Chris Heisley's two-run homer in the sixth pushed the lead back to 6-3.
As is their tendency, the Braves trimmed the deficit again. They scored one run in the sixth inning and another in the eighth, both with the help of poor defense by the Nationals.
Second baseman Daniel Murphy's errant throw on Peterson's infield single allowed Anthony Recker to score in the sixth. Braves left fielder Matt Kemp led off the eighth with a homer, Jeff Francoeur followed with a single and then relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit's throwing error on Anthony Recker's sacrifice bunt attempt put runners at second and third.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker intentionally walked Peterson to get to Gordon Beckham before a rain delay halted play. When play resumed, Francoeur scored when Beckham grounded out into a double play against Blake Treinen. The Nationals then intentionally walked pinch hitter Ender Inciarte to get to Dansby Swanson, who grounded out to end the threat with the score tied at 6.
De La Cruz lasted just 5 2/3 innings while allowing six runs and seven hits, including two home runs. In 19 August games Braves starting pitchers have averaged just 5.19 innings per outing and none of them have pitched more than six innings in a game since July 17.
