WASHINGTON — Adam LaRoche kept up his torrid stretch with two hits and two RBIs, and the Washington Nationals essentially put to rest any thought that there is still a serious race for the NL East title with a 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. Washington's second victory in two nights over the Braves, gave the Nationals a nine-game lead over their second-place rivals with 19 to play. Atlanta was a regular nemesis for about a year and a half, but the Nationals have put the kibosh on that trend by winning five of the last seven meetings.