Nationals 2, Braves 1: Doug Fister fired seven shutout innings and Anthony Rendon scored once and drove in one as host Washington won the opener of a three-game series, moving closer to the National League East title.

Fister (13-6) snapped a three-start losing streak by holding struggling Atlanta to two hits with three walks and three strikeouts as the Nationals extended their NL East lead to eight games over the Braves and reduced their magic number to clinch the division title to 12. Adam LaRoche finished 2-for-4, Ian Desmond added an RBI and Drew Storen struck out the side in the ninth to earn his third save and second in two games.

Atlanta starter Mike Minor (6-10) pitched well in six-plus innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. Freddie Freeman collected two hits and an RBI for the Braves, who have scored one run or fewer in six of their past nine games to drop 1 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh for the final NL wild-card spot.

The Nationals started the game with a run on three hits in the first as Desmond drove home Rendon on a two-out single to right. Minor gave up Wilson Ramos’ single and Asdrubal Cabrera’s double leading off the seventh to end his night, and Rendon beat out a potential inning-ending double play that ticked off reliever David Hale’s glove to score pinch-runner Jeff Kobernus for a two-run advantage.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit doubled to right – Jayson Werth was unable to hold onto the ball on a sliding catch attempt – with one out in the eighth off Tyler Clippard. Matt Thornton allowed Freeman’s two-out RBI single to right to score pinch-runner Jose Constanza, but Craig Stammen got an inning-ending popup from Justin Upton with the tying run on third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: LaRoche earned NL co-Player of the Week honors with San Francisco’s Buster Posey after hitting .333 with four homers, 10 RBIs and slugging 1.333. … Atlanta C Evan Gattis did not play due to strep throat and may miss the entire series. … Freeman’s single snapped a 16-inning scoring drought for the Braves.