WASHINGTON (AP) Bryce Harper had three hits, including his 33rd home run, and Gio Gonzalez tossed six scoreless innings as the surging Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-2 Saturday night for their fourth straight win.
Washington remains five games back of the NL East-leading Mets, who beat the Marlins 7-0.
Harper's two-run blast, which doubled as his 500th career hit, capped a four-run third inning against Atlanta starter Shelby Miller (5-13). The National League batting leader also doubled twice.
Gonzalez (10-7) held the Braves hitless through five innings. He allowed two hits with 10 strikeouts and four walks for his first victory since Aug. 10.
Ryan Zimmerman also drove in two runs. Ian Desmond added three hits.
The Braves extended their season-high losing streak to 11 games.
Miller, an All-Star this season, has dropped 12 straight decisions and gone 20 starts without a win.
Gonzalez walked consecutive batters with one out in the first inning and issued another base on balls in the fifth, but retired 11 straight Braves in between.
Nick Markakis' single leading off the sixth broke up the no-hitter. Atlanta loaded the bases, but Gonzalez escaped unharmed, leaving with a 7-0 lead.
Atlanta has dropped 33 of 42 games, including 18 of their last 19.
Miller allowed seven runs over 4 1-3 innings. He hasn't won since May 23 despite a reasonable 3.53 ERA over that span.
Washington's four-run third inning encapsulated Miller's hard-luck stretch.
Desmond's simple fly ball turned into a leadoff double when center fielder Cameron Maybin lost track of the flight. On third base with two outs, Desmond raced home on Miller's wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
Jayson Werth continued the inning with a ground-rule double and scored on Anthony Rendon's single. Then Harper crushed a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall.
Wilson Ramos' simple bouncer in front of home plate scored two runs in the fourth. Catcher Christian Bethancourt fielded the grounder as Yunel Escobar raced home from third base. Bethancourt threw wildly past Miller covering home plate, which allowed Desmond to score from second.
Nick Swisher's RBI double in the eighth ended Washington's shutout bid.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (back) is slated for a bullpen session Sunday, manager Matt Williams said. Strasburg was pulled after four innings on Aug. 30 against the Marlins. Strasburg is on track to re-join the rotation Wednesday against the Mets.
UP NEXT
Braves: LHP Manny Banuelous (1-3, 3.33) tossed 5 2-3 scoreless innings against Washington on July 2 in his first start of the season. He has lost each of his last three starts.
Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (5-5, 3.50) lasted a season-low 2 2-3 innings Sept. 1 against the Cardinals. The rookie only allowed one hit, but walked six batters and allowed three runs in the no-decision.
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