Harper's HR tear continues with 9th-inning blast to beat Braves

Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Bryce Harper's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Washington to an 8-6 victory over Atlanta on Saturday.

The blast enabled the Nats, who led 6-3 at one point, to win the series, following a 9-2 decision in Friday's series opener. It also moved Washington over .500 for the first time this season.

Harper, who ended up 2-for-4 and scored twice, has gone deep six times in his last three games.

Cody Martin (1-1) allowed a leadoff hit from Yunel Escobar before striking out Jayson Werth. He then served up the winning blast, which landed just to the left of center field.

"He's the hottest player in the world right now," Martin said of Harper. "He's putting good swings on everything."

After the game, Harper was doused in chocolate syrup by teammate Max Scherzer.

"They're an unbelievable team. I've got a lot of great guys around me and make it fun," Harper said.

It made a winner of Drew Storen (1-0), who tossed a perfect top of the frame.

Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a three-run homer while Jose Lobaton added a two-run shot among his three hits for the Nationals, who have won four of their last five games at home and six of seven overall.

Christian Bethancourt ended up with two hits and knocked in two runs for the Braves, who were coming off a series win against the Phillies. Cameron Maybin doubled twice, drove in a run and scored once, while Pedro Ciriaco added a two-run double.

Lobaton's long homer to right with one down in the second came after Ian Desmond reached on a one-out single. Danny Espinosa reached on a double one batter later and eventually scored on Escobar's two-out hit.

Maybin doubled home Alberto Callaspo with two away in the fifth to get the Braves on the board, and Washington came back with three more in the bottom half.

Werth and Harper hit back-to-back one-out singles then Zimmerman barely cleared the wall in left, a shot which was upheld on a brief replay.

Atlanta put together a two-out rally in the seventh. Bethancourt singled, Maybin doubled ahead of Ciriaco's pinch-hit, two-run double which ended Doug Fister's outing. Matt Thornton then retired Nick Markakis to keep it a three- run margin.

In the eighth, Nats reliever Aaron Barrett loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a walk, but Tanner Roark offered no relief. He allowed an RBI groundout from Jace Peterson and a game-tying, two-run double from Bethancourt before Maybin grounded out.

Michael Taylor was caught at home on a strong throw from Braves left fielder Kelly Johnson trying to score on Dan Uggla's pinch single in the home eighth.

Game Notes

Harper has 11 home runs this season. His game-winning blast comes on the heels of a two-homer performance on Friday and a three-HR effort in Thursday's 7-5 win over Miami ... Barrett has appeared in 16 games for Washington this year and has posted at least one strikeout in each time on the mound ... Fister allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings ... Atlanta's Julio Teheran worked five full frames, giving up 10 hits and six runs while striking out six and walking three.