Ildemaro Vargas hit a three-run home run and Keibert Ruiz and Jake Alu also homered in the Washington Nationals' 8-2 victory against the visiting Oakland Athletics on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

It was a tight game until Vargas' fourth blast of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning. Alu's first career home run came in his 14th game in the majors, a solo shot in the eighth.

Ruiz, Vargas and Stone Garrett all had two hits for Washington, which received at least one hit from every batter in the lineup to total 12 as a team.

Cory Abbott (1-1), the first of four Washington relievers, gained the victory with 1 1/3 shutout innings. It marked the first big-league victory for the right-hander who had been in the majors for parts of three seasons but lost his previous six decisions.

Nationals starter Joan Adon made it through three innings, charged with two runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out three.

Jordan Weems went two shutout innings for the longest stint from the Washington bullpen, as the Nationals won for the sixth time in nine games.

The game marked the major league debut for Oakland outfielder Lawrence Butler, a highly rated prospect. He played right field and went 0-for-4.

Athletics starter Paul Blackburn (2-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The team had won his past three starts.

Oakland relievers Lucas Erceg and Sam Long were each tagged for two runs.

Jordan Diaz had two RBIs and Shea Langeliers finished with two hits for Oakland.

The Athletics took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Diaz's two-out single. Run-scoring singles from Vargas and Garrett in the second inning allowed the Nationals to pull even.

Washinton went ahead for the first time on Alu's sacrifice fly in the fourth, marking his first RBI in five games. Ruiz's 13th homer of the season made it 4-2 in the fifth.

--Field Level Media