Braves 7, Nationals 5: Mike Minor settled down after a rough start and host Atlanta knocked Stephen Strasburg out after three innings to win the middle game of a weekend series.

The Braves beat Washington for only the second time in seven tries this season, using three-run innings in the third and fourth, to pull within 3½ games of the Nationals in the NL East. Rookie Andrelton Simmons had three hits for Atlanta.

Strasburg (9-3) succumbed to the heat on a day where the city of Atlanta set an all-time temperature record of 106 degrees. Strasburg lasted only three innings before leaving with heat-related issues, surrendering two hits and three runs. The majors’ leader in strikeouts fanned four and walked four.

Trailing 2-0, the Braves broke through against Strasburg in the third. Jason Heyward doubled home Michael Bourn, and Freddie Freeman’s sacrifice fly scored Martin Prado to tie the game at 2-2. Dan Uggla then doubled down the left-field line, scoring Heyward to put the Braves ahead 3-2.

Chien-Ming Wang started the fourth for Washington, and Atlanta greeted him rudely. Doubles from Juan Francisco and Bourn each scored a run, and Prado’s sacrifice fly pushed the Braves’ advantage to 6-2.

Minor (4-6), whose spot in the rotation is shaky after a rough first half of the season, gave up single runs in the first and second. He pitched into the sixth, allowing five hits and four runs with five walks and two strikeouts.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth, recording his NL-leading 23rd save and tying for the major-league lead. … The Braves had scored only 17 runs in their first six games against Washington this season before Saturday. … Strasburg posted his shortest start of the season. ... Temperature at first pitch was 104 degrees. ... Bourn drew three walks.