Nationals 6, Braves 4: Jordan Zimmermann struck out seven in six innings and host Washington scored four times in the first en route to extending its lead over reeling Atlanta in the National League East to nine games.

The Nationals reduced their magic number to clinch the East to 10 as Adam LaRoche finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Wilson Ramos went 2-for-4 and drove in a run and Jayson Werth walked and scored twice. Zimmermann (11-5) benefited from Washington scoring five times in the first two innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits, and Drew Storen followed three other relievers to notch his fourth save – and third in three games.

Ervin Santana (14-8) gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits and four walks in five innings. Justin Upton hit a two-run homer and Freddie Freeman recorded two hits as the Braves dropped to 3-7 in their last 10 contests and remained 1 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh for the second NL wild-card spot.

LaRoche and Ian Desmond hit back-to-back RBI singles in the first, Ramos added a run-scoring base hit and Asdrubal Cabrera lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 after one inning. Werth walked with two outs in the second, reached third on Christian Bethancourt’s throwing error and scored on LaRoche’s single to right.

The Braves scored twice in the fourth on Jason Heyward’s fielder’s choice and Chris Johnson’s single to right. Upton cut the deficit to 6-4 in the sixth with his 27th homer of the season, but Atlanta wasted Emilio Bonifacio’s leadoff double in the eighth as Freeman and Upton struck out to end the frame.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ramos snapped a 2-for-25 skid with his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 29. … Atlanta C Evan Gattis (strep throat) did not play for the second consecutive game. … Upton has hit five homers against the Nationals this season.