ATLANTA - Andrelton Simmons two-run single in Atlantas three-run fourth helped the streaking Braves beat Daisuke Matsuzaka and the New York Mets 5-4 on Tuesday night. William Carrier Jersey . Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy hit two-run homers for the Mets, who have lost three straight and six of seven. The Braves overcame a shaky start from Mike Minor to protect their one-half game lead over Washington in the NL East. Atlanta has won six straight, its longest streak of the season. Shae Simmons (1-0) took over for Minor in the fifth and pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings. Craig Kimbrel earned his 26th save by striking out Eric Young Jr., Granderson and Bobby Abreu in the ninth. Matsuzaka (3-3) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings. He has lost three straight starts. On the day catcher Evan Gattis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his back, robbing the team of one of its top power hitters, the Braves found other ways to score. With the game tied 2-2 in the fourth, the Braves staged an improbable three-run inning. Chris Johnson reached on only his eighth walk of the season. With two outs, Johnson scored from second on Minors single to centre — only his second RBI of the season. Following a single and stolen base by B.J. Upton, Andrelton Simmons two-run single to left off Matsuzaka increased Atlantas lead to 5-2. Minor quickly gave back two runs in the fifth on Murphys two-run homer. Minor then gave up singles to Eric Campbell and Lucas Duda before being bailed out by rookie Shae Simmons, whose sidearm delivery produced a fly ball from Chris Young and a strikeout of Travis dArnaud. Minor lasted 4 1-3 innings, matching his shortest start of the season, and allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk. His ERA is 4.73 and he has made eight starts since his last win on May 19. Atlanta rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt, making his second straight start, singled in the second inning to drive in Johnson for his first career RBI. Freddie Freeman had a run-scoring double in the third. Grandersons third-inning homer into the right-field seats drove in Juan Lagares, who had a bunt single. It was the fifth straight start Minor has allowed a homer. Braves second baseman Tommy La Stella suffered a bruised right foot when he was hit by a pitch in the second inning. He left the game in the eighth. NOTES: A few hundred fans arrived early to watch the United States lose to Belgium in the World Cup. The game was shown on the stadium video board. ... Tejada has a 10-game hitting streak. ... B.J. Upton has an eight-game hitting streak and 13 stolen bases. He stole 12 bases in 2013. ... Gov. Nathan Deal threw out the first pitch. ... The Braves recalled RHP Juan Jaime from Triple-A Gwinnett. ... Braves RHP David Carpenter (strained right biceps) is expected to come off the 15-day DL on Wednesday. ... The series ends Wednesday night with Atlantas Julio Teheran facing New Yorks Jacob deGrom. Alex Tuch Jersey . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. Custom Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys .J. Ward appeared in court Friday on misdemeanour charges that he threw a glass mug at a bartender at a Denver strip club. https://www.cheapgoldenknights.com/ . - Connor Brown and Dane Fox both scored in regulation and in the shootout, as the Erie Otters extended their win streak to 10 games by defeating the London Knights 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals posted football-like numbers in routing the Chicago Cubs on Saturday with Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III watching from the stands. The way Gio Gonzalez is pitching, it was much more than they needed. Gonzalez pitched eight sparkling innings and Ryan Zimmerman tied a career high with four hits and drove in three runs as the Nationals roughed up the Chicago Cubs without recently traded Jeff Samardzija for a 13-0 victory. "Today he didnt have the velocity he did in Chicago, but nevertheless when you can throw your breaking stuff for strikes then it makes your fastball look better," manager Matt Williams said after Gonzalez defeated Chicago for the second Saturday in a row. "Hes relied on (his curveball and changeup). If he gets in a jam he can throw either one of those, can use either one as a strikeout pitch," Williams added. Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon added three hits and two RBIs apiece for the Nationals on a day the Cubs were forced to start Carlos Villanueva (4-6) following the trade of Samardzija, the scheduled starter, and Jason Hammel to the Oakland Athletics. "Somebody told me that earlier," Rendon said of the change. "I didnt even know who we were facing to begin with. I just show up." Washington netted a season high in runs and hits (19), including eight doubles but no home runs. "(The trade) had nothing to do with any of the things that happened today we spit out a bad ballgame," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said before the question could be asked. He added he doesnt think it will be an issue going forward. "I dont. You had two things happen," Renteria said. "You had Gio who threw really well. So he stifles out offence pretty much and so that combined with us giving up a lot of runs it kind of looks like, Wow -- you know -- whats going on? Its just baseball." Gonzalez (6-4) allowed four hits, while striking out seven and walked one. He was lifted after throwing 109 pitches. Hes now thrown 29 consecutive scoreless innings against Chicago and 22 overall. After spending a month on the disabled list with shoulder inflaammation, Gonzalez is 3-0 in four starts since his return. Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys. Villanueva was pulled after the first four Nationals reached base in the third inning. He was charged with four runs on five hits. Chris Rusin, called up Saturday from Triple-A Iowa, was roughed up for five runs on nine hits over 3 2-3 innings. Justin Ruggiano had two hits for Chicago, which had won four straight. Williams flipped left-hander Bryce Harper and right-hander Rendon in the batting order, putting Rendon back in the 2-hole and Harper sixth against righty Villanueva. "Bryce is a little tick off (his timing)," Williams said before the game. Harper (1 for 3 with a walk Saturday) is 4 for 18 since returning from the disabled list. After Scott Hairston hit for Denard Span in the seventh, Hairston went to left field and Harper shifted to centre. Harper helped build the games first run Saturday. After Zimmerman singled leading off the second, Harper bunted him to second base and Zimmerman scored on Desmonds single. Washington sent 10-men to the plate in the third as they broke the game open and chased Villanueva. It was his fifth start of the season in 23 appearances. Span started the inning off with a single, and Rendon, Werth, Zimmerman, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos had RBI hits. Adam LaRoche scored on Rusins wild pitch. "After that its just go out there and attack the strike zone," Gonzalez said. "Just try to stay consistent in the strike zone." When Gonzalez singled in the seventh, every Washington starter had hit safely. NOTES: Washingtons Danny Espinosa pinch hit in the eighth, his first at-bat since June 28. ... Rusin, 27, was 6-10 with 3.96 ERA in 16 starts at Iowa. ... Renteria said the team will add another reliever Sunday. ... In the seventh inning, Frandsen came on to play third base for Washington, with Zimmerman shifting to first. ... Desmond leads MLB shortstops with 53 RBIs. ... Griffin sported a No. 10 Nationals jersey with his name on the back and visited the locker room after the game. ... Chicagos RH Jake Arrieta (5-1, 1.81) opposes RH Jordan Zimmerman (6-4, 2.95) in Sundays series finale. ' ' '