Nationals 8, Braves 4: Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in four runs, and Gio Gonzalez won his 11th game as visiting Washington took the rubber game of the weekend series.

Zimmerman sparked a four-run first inning with a two-run double to center. He hit his sixth homer of the season in the fifth.

Gonzalez (11-3) went five-plus innings, allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

After Zimmerman’s double off Atlanta starter Tim Hudson (6-4) staked the Nationals to a 2-0 lead, an Adam LaRoche sacrifice fly and a Rick Ankiel single pushed Washington’s advantage to 4-0.

The Braves drew within 4-1 in the third, on Chipper Jones’ double to right that scored Jason Heyward.

Zimmerman’s homer gave Washington a 5-1 lead. Jhonatan Solano’s sixth-inning single gave the Nationals a five-run advantage, and the Braves drew within 6-4 in the sixth on Freddie Freeman’s 10th homer of the season, a three-run shot to center.

Hudson pitched six innings, giving up eight hits and six runs (five earned). Hudson walked two and struck out four.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Temperature at first pitch was 100 degrees. … Washington improved to 6-2 against the Braves this season. ... The Nationals now lead Atlanta by 4 1/2 games in the NL East.