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The Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves 11–4 on April 21 at Nationals Park, with the home team's offense overwhelming a Braves pitching staff that surrendered 11 earned runs despite posting a 3.04 ERA. Washington capitalized on 12 walks and 10 hits to accumulate 11 RBIs, while the Braves managed just 8 hits and 4 RBIs in the loss. Atlanta's pitchers issued 12 walks and struck out 10, a control problem that proved costly against a Nationals lineup that drew multiple free passes. The Braves' bats showed some pop with a .785 OPS and 2 home runs, but the team's pitching depth faltered when it mattered most, allowing Washington to build an early lead that proved insurmountable. The Nationals' 0 errors also aided their cause, keeping Atlanta's comeback hopes in check. This loss marks a significant pitching concern for Atlanta as it looks to stabilize its rotation depth heading into the next series.