Nationals 4, Braves 1
Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 and Jesus Flores hit a three-run homer as host Washington continued to distance itself from Atlanta in the National League East race.
The Nationals won their second consecutive game over the second-place Braves, extending their division lead to seven games. Washington has won five of its past six games while Atlanta has lost four in a row.
Strasburg (15-5) beat the Braves for the third time in four starts this season. He allowed four hits and one run with just one walk. Flores connected for his fourth homer of the season with two outs in the fifth inning off Atlanta starter Paul Maholm (11-7), pushing Washington's advantage to 4-1.
Ian Desmond hit his 19th homer of the season with two outs in the first, a solo shot to left. Maholm went seven innings, allowing seven hits and four runs with one walk and six strikeouts.
Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 28th save, but it wasn't easy. Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. But Clippard got Dan Uggla and Brian McCann to pop up and got a flyout from Juan Francisco to end the game.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Strasburg has pitched 145 1/3 innings this season. ... Despite a 51-minute rain delay in the top of the third, Strasburg returned after the delay. ... Heyward went 3-for-4, raising his average to .277. ... The Braves dropped to 4-10 against Washington this season. ... Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones did not play. ... Washington's seven-game advantage in the NL East is its largest this season.