The Nationals picked on a battered and bruised Atlanta Braves club Thursday night in a 15-1 laugher, scoring 10 runs in the first three frames. The 14-run advantage marked the largest margin of victory in Nationals history. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman continued his feverish hitting with a 3-for-3 performance, including two doubles and four RBIs. In his last 11 games, Zimmerman has 23 RBIs, going 17-for-42 (.405) with five doubles and seven homers. He has now hit safely in eight straight games. Manager Matt Williams said maybe one reason Bryce Harper drew four walks and scored four runs is Harper knew he was protected with Zimmerman's red-hot bat right behind him in the lineup. "That's why Bryce didn't swing at a pitch and scored four runs," Williams said. "There's your proof in the pudding right there. He's been more aggressive early in the count, which is important for him depending on the situation, and he's seeing it good. He hit two balls to right, squared one up to left on the curveball as well. He's patient enough to get good ones to hit and he's laying the wood on it." The Nationals led 12-1 in the bottom of the sixth when Danny Espinosa pinch-hit for him. Zimmerman has now gone 6-for-6 since his second at-bat Wednesday vs. St. Louis to his fourth plate appearance Thursday against the Braves. "It reminds you of what kind of player he is," said left fielder Clint Robinson, who had a career-high four RBIs himself. "He's a rock in the lineup. He's one of our guys. He's finally healthy now feeling good and you can see what he can do."

Everyone else on the team can speak about how good the veteran from Virginia Beach, Va., is, but just don't talk to him about a "hot streak" at the plate. "Feel good. Keep doing the same thing I've been doing," Zimmerman said. "Come out and try and get hits each day, help us win." Instead, Zimmerman would rather just concentrate on finding a way to win games. He even said in St. Louis that he didn't care about the home run milestones, just winning. "We're still a good team," Zimmerman said before the game. "We have plenty of guys that can contribute and help us win. The goal is to go out everyday and win. That's what I'm trying to do. Just do things to help us win." So was it the plantar fasciitis in his foot that affected his early hitting this season? "I never really wanted to blame the struggles early in the year on the foot," Zimmerman said. "Obviously something was there but I've always said if I don't think I can play then I never go out there. I just wasn't swinging the bat well and got healthy now. Just feel a lot better than I did earlier in the year." Zimmerman got some rest after the Nationals rolled early against the Braves, as did several other starters. It marked their fourth win in their last six games. "We just have to go out and continue to play good," Zimmerman said. "Before the series in St. Louis, we won three or four series in a row and had a chance to win all three games in St. Louis against a really good team. So if we playing like that we keep playing like that then we'll give ourselves a chance." During pregame, he did attempt to explain why he has gotten into such a nice groove after struggling to string hits together early on in the season. "I don't really know. I wish I had the answer," Zimmerman said. "It would be great cause then I wouldn't ever struggle."