Zimmermann twirls six innings (Nats win 6-4 for series victory)

Never underestimate the importance of getting the leadoff man on base. Factor in that your team is facing a 14-game winner in Ervin Santana and the importance ramps up.

The Nationals offense has scored three runs or less in eight of its last 11 nine-inning games. So if Santana could get going, it would add pressure to the offense as the innings progressed.

Denard Span made everything easier for his teammates in his first at-bat, smacking a 1-2 Santana offering into right field for a double. That kind of a statement in the first at-bat can affect the rest of the batting order.

On this night, it certainly left a positive impression.

Later in the inning, the Nationals put together four consecutive singles with RBI base knocks by Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos.

Asdrubal Cabrera finished the first-inning onslaught with a RBI sac fly to score Desmond and the Nationals led 4-0.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez challenged a play at second base where Desmond was called safe sliding into the bag on Harper's hit to center. Desmond held up, thinking Emilio Bonifacio might make the catch in center, then had to hustle to beat his throw to second on a potential force play. The video review confirmed the call and the play stood . The Braves lost their challenge for the game. The review took one minute, 53 seconds.

Jordan Zimmermann has allowed two hits in two innings but no runs.

Heading to the bottom of the second, the Nationals lead 4-0.

Update: There are not many hitters that are in a better groove in the majors like LaRoche is right now. He added RBI single in the second and the Nationals lead 5-0.

Update II: In the fourth, the Braves got on the board. Phil Gosselin doubled and Freddie Freeman singled to put men on first and third. Jason Heyward's fielder's choice scored Gosselin and Heyward went to second on a Desmond throwing error. Chris Johnson added a run-scoring single to bring Heyward home, and the Nationals lead was cut to 5-2.

Update III: Werth is having a good night at the plate versus Santana. After a pair of walks, he doubled to deep left field in the fourth. The hit scored Rendon and the Nationals lead 6-2.

Update IV: The Braves counter punch in a big way in the sixth. Danny Espinosa replaced Ian Desmond at shortstop to start the inning. Espinosa's error allowed Gosselin to reach first base.

Justin Upton's 27th homer is a two-run shot and suddenly the Nationals lead is cut in half, 6-4.

Update V: Zimmerman goes six innings, allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts. He twirled 105 pitches, 75 for strikes.

Update VI: Drew Storen came on in the ninth to record his fourth save in a 6-4 victory.

The win marks the first series win over the Braves since September 2013. The Nationals are 82-61.

The Nationals have won four of their last six games versus Braves and lead the N.L. East by nine games. The magic number is 10 to clinch the division.