Washington winning streak at four: Nats blitz Braves, 8-2

Bryce Harper homered, Gio Gonzalez was sharp, and that was more than enough for the Washington Nationals to post an easy 8-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in Nationals Park.

Gonzalez (10-7, 3.96 ERA) gave up two hits in six scoreless innings, striking out 10 and walking four. Harper hit a two-run homer, his 33^rd, to key a four-run second.

Harper was 3-for-4 at the plate to raise his batting average to .337.

Ryan Zimmerman was 1-for-4 with two RBI, giving him 73 runs batted in on the season in 94 games.

Washington (70-65) kept pace five games back of the New York Mets in the National League East. The Mets (75-60) won 7-0 at Miami on Saturday night.