Nationals finally get their first win

WASHINGTON — Adam Dunn hit one of Washington’s four home runs, Shairon Martis threw 6 1/3 solid innings and the Nationals avoided setting a club record for most consecutive losses to start a season by beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-2, Thursday night.

Washington is 1-7; in the franchise’s two-city history, only this edition and the 1998 Montreal Expos opened 0-7, according to STATS LLC.

Martis (1-0) gave up two runs and five hits in the most effective performance by any member of Washington’s young starting rotation in 2009.

Dunn hit a three-run shot against Joe Blanton (0-1) in the first inning, and Josh Willingham hit his first homer with the Nationals as a pinch-hitter in the seventh off Chad Durbin.