Yankees 7, Nationals 2: Phil Hughes struck out nine in six strong innings and Derek Jeter drove in a run and scored a pair as visiting New York struck first in the battle of first-place teams.

Curtis Granderson hit his 20th home run and drove in three and Nick Swisher had two hits and an RBI for the Yankees, who have won seven straight games to maintain their lead in the American League East.

Washington, which leads the NL East, had its six-game winning streak snapped.

Hughes (7-5) allowed six hits and walked a pair in his third straight strong effort. The 25-year old right-hander has posted a 1.69 ERA while earning the win in each of his last three turns.

Gio Gonzalez (8-3) was nearly as sharp for the Nationals but ran into some trouble in the third, when Jeter doubled and Mark Teixeira drew a two-out walk. Alex Rodriguez followed with an RBI single and Swisher added a run-scoring single to left to make it 2-0.

Washington got a run back in the bottom of the frame but failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded situation when Hughes got Ian Desmond to ground into an inning-ending double play.

New York broke it open in the seventh. Gonzalez was lifted after allowing a leadoff single and Brad Lidge struggled. The veteran reliever walked two and allowed an RBI single to Jeter, with another run scoring on Desmond’s throwing error.

Granderson’s two-run double later in the seventh and solo blast in the ninth put it away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Yankees improved to 8-2 in interleague play. … Washington phenom Bryce Harper, who grew up rooting for New York, went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. … New York RH David Robertson (oblique) was activated from the disabled list prior to the game and allowed a run in the ninth.