Derek Lowe (12-7) remained unbeaten in his last six starts, limiting the Nationals to two runs on seven hits over seven innings.
LaRoche put the Braves in front with a homer in the second inning after Garret Anderson had forged a 1-1 tie earlier in the frame with a home run.
After the Nationals came back to tie it at 2-2, LaRoche hit another go-ahead homer in the seventh. Martin Prado added a solo blast in the eighth to touch off a three-run inning that broke open the game.
After winning a season-best eight straight games, Washington has dropped two in a row.
The loss went to reliever Jorge Sosa (1-1), who retired only one man in the seventh and gave up LaRoche's second homer.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
Post new comment