ATLANTA -- An eight-game losing streak was way too long for Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "It was nice to shake hands," Gonzalez said. "It seems its been an eternity." Justin Upton and Freddie Freeman hit two of Atlantas four homers off Stephen Strasburg, and the Braves snapped their long skid with a 7-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. Rain delayed the game by 1 hour, 11 minutes in the middle of the sixth inning. Atlanta, which nearly blew a 7-0 lead, moved within 3 1/2 games of NL East-leading Washington. The Nationals, who had won two straight and four of six, have lost 21 of 30 against the Braves. "After a rough road trip and an off day, its nice to come back and win a ballgame that we needed," Upton said. "Theyre a good ballclub. We split with them the last time we played. Its good to jump out and get the first one." Strasburg (8-10) gave up two more homers than his previous career high. He allowed seven runs, seven hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in five innings, dropping to 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in seven starts at Turner Field. Strasburg, who fell to 1-8 with a 5.25 ERA in 12 road starts this year, was coming off a dominating home performance against Philadelphia last Sunday, striking out 10, walking one and holding the Phillies scoreless for seven innings. "Just not executing pitches -- thats the bottom line," Strasburg said. "It feels good out of the hand, Im just not hitting the spot well enough. I really dont know how to work on it. Some days Im hitting the spot and some days Im a couple inches up, so Ive got to roll with it, try to miss down instead of miss up." Ervin Santana (11-6) held the Nationals scoreless until the sixth, when Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI single, and Anthony Rendon hit his 15th homer to make it 7-4. Santana, who allowed four runs, four hits and two walks, struck out four in six innings and won his fourth straight decision. Wilson Ramos fifth homer and Cabreras sacrifice fly cut Atlantas lead to 7-6 off reliever Anthony Varvaro in the seventh. Craig Kimbrel earned his 33rd save in 37 chances by striking out Ramos, retiring Kevin Frandsen on a comebacker, and fanning pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa. The Braves went up 2-0 in the first on Justin Uptons 20th homer, and they made it 6-0 in the second on B.J. Uptons eighth shot and Freemans 16th. Tommy La Stella put Atlanta ahead 7-0 in the fifth with his first career home run. Washingtons Denard Span went 3 for 4 with a run scored and reached base safely for the 34th straight game. TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: RF Jayson Werth was given the night off because of a sore right ankle and right shoulder, but manager Matt Williams said he should be in the lineup for the series next two games. Werths replacement, Steven Souza, hit the wall so hard in an attempt to catch Freemans homer that his glove fell on the warning track. He stayed down on his back for about one minute but remained in the game after a trainer checked on him in right field. Souza lined out in his only at-bat before Frandsen replaced him in the fourth. "Hes OK," Williams said. "He banged the wall pretty good, full speed into the wall. His shoulders hurting, pretty good impact, so well see how he is tomorrow." Braves: SS Andrelton Simmons missed his second straight game with a left ankle sprain, and Gonzalez said the earliest he might return is Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit Turner Field. Steven Stamkos Jersey . -- At the beginning of training camp, Andrew Bogut set a goal to play all 82 regular-season games and regain his place among the NBAs best centres. Louis Domingue Lightning Jersey . - Considering where Jeff Gordon was after Richmond, left out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in part due to some late-race shenanigans, he couldnt have been happier on Sunday. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Steven-Stamkos-Jersey/.C. United on Saturday night and boost the Unions playoff hopes. Nick DeLeon scored in the 36th minute for United (3-23-6), which had ample opportunities to build on its lead but went its 10th straight match without a victory. Vincent Lecavalier Lightning Jersey . Sundays game against the Colorado Rapids at B.C. Place Stadium has important implications in determining Major League Soccers playoff picture and will also mark the final game in the career of veteran South Korean defender Young-Pyo Lee. Mikhail Sergachev Lightning Jersey .Pete Morelli said the back judge threw a flag on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a pass to Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in Dallas 24-20 wild-card win Sunday. But the head linesman said there wasnt enough contact and that Hitchens was face-guarding, which isnt a penalty in the NFL.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks have agreed to a three-year contract with restricted free agent forward Tommy Wingels. Agent Dan Plante on Monday confirmed the move that will keep Wingels in San Jose. CSNBayArea.com first reported the signing and said the contract is worth $7.4 million. Wingels was a key component for the Sharkks last season when he ranked fifth on the team with 16 goals to go along with 22 assists in 77 games.dddddddddddd He also led the Sharks with 218 hits and was used as a penalty killer and on the second power-play unit. Restricted free agent defenceman Jason Demers has also filed for salary arbitration for next season. ' ' '