Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 batters while allowing one run on four hits in six innings to pick up his 15th win of the season as the Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1.

Strasburg (15-5) lowered his earned run average this season to 2.85 as Washington improved to 77-46, best in Major League Baseball. Atlanta (70-53) fell seven games behind the Nationals in the National League East division with its fourth straight loss.

Jesus Flores hit a three-run homer and Ian Desmond added a solo home run for Washington at Nationals Park. Freddie Freeman drove in Atlanta’s only run with a sacrifice fly.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rob Gloster in San Francisco at rgloster@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net