ATLANTA — Sean Newcomb pitched seven strong innings for his sixth straight win, leading the Braves back into first place with a 4-2 victory over the Nationals on Thursday night.

In the start of a four-game series between the top teams in the NL East, the Braves snapped the Nationals’ six-game winning streak and reclaimed first place by a half-game.

Newcomb (6-1) was roughed up by the Nationals in his season debut April 2. Since then, he’s 6-0 with a sparkling 2.16 ERA in 10 starts.

“This is a huge step in how far he’s come and where he's going,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Anthony Rendon drove in in both Nationals runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and an RBI single in the third. Newcomb was dominant the rest of the way, retiring 14 of 15 hitters before he was lifted for a pinch hitter after a 1-2-3 seventh. He threw 93 pitches — 61 for strikes.

Rendon, who led off the sixth with a double, was the only Nationals hitter to reach base off Newcomb after the third.

“He was good, always moving the ball in and out,” Rendon said. “And he’s got a pretty good changeup with the same spin as his four-seamer. Tip your hat to him.”

The Braves went ahead for good in the bottom of the third off Tanner Roark (2-5). Ozzie Albies led off with a single and Freddie Freeman followed with a double into the right-field corner, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. Bryce Harper’s throw back to the infield short-hopped Trea Turner, an error that allowed Albies to race home after he initially stopped at third.

“You can't give a good team 28 or 29 outs,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.