Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman (11) is congratulated on his home run off the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning of their baseball game, Sunday, July 1, 2012, at Turner Field in Atlanta.ATLANTA (AP) - Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in four runs and Gio Gonzalez scuffled for his sixth straight road victory to help the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 8-4 Sunday in 105-degree heat.
The temperature rose four degrees from the first pitch to 105 by the middle of the eighth inning. The National Weather Service reported that Atlanta broke an all-time recorded high at 106 on Saturday.
Gonzalez (11-3) capped his second All-Star selection despite allowing five hits, four runs and four walks in five-plus innings. He struck out four and threw strikes in 64 of 114 pitches.
Washington, which has won four of five, took a 4-0 lead in the first off Tim Hudson (6-4). The NL-leading Nationals are 10-2-1 in their last 13 series matchups against the Braves.