Nationals 4, Braves 0 (Game 2): Tanner Roark pitched seven shutout innings and Denard Span extended his hitting streak to 28 games as host Washington capped a doubleheader sweep.

Ryan Zimmerman homered as the red-hot Nationals won for the 13th time in their past 16 games, cutting Atlanta’s lead in the National League East to eight games and moving within 4 1/2 games of the final NL wild-card spot. Roark (7-0) limited the Braves to two hits with one walk and six strikeouts, and Span’s fifth-inning single gave him the longest hitting streak in the majors this season.

Freddy Garcia (1-2) allowed one run on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts for the struggling Braves, who dropped to 6-10 in September. Atlanta finished with just five hits, all singles.

Bryce Harper led off the second with a bloop single to left, stole second and scored on Steve Lombardozzi’s single to right to make it 1-0 Washington. Zimmerman hit his 10th homer in his past 14 games with one out in the eighth, a solo shot to open a three-run frame as the Nationals took control.

Roark retired the final 14 hitters he faced. Craig Stammen struck out the side in the eighth, stranding the tying run at second, and Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 42nd save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Atlanta’s division lead is its smallest since July 25, with the Nationals trimming seven games off the deficit in two weeks. … Span was thrown out at home plate in the third after grounding into a fielder’s choice, reaching third on the play when Andrelton Simmons’ throw to first sailed down the right-field line and racing to score after Dan Uggla momentarily bobbled the ball. … Atlanta 3B and NL batting leader Chris Johnson went 0-for-3, his average dropping to .328.