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ATLANTA -- Fredi Gonzalez doesnt want to discuss the NL East standings. In fact, one mention of the Braves big lead in the division made Atlantas manager groan and complain "I dont even want to talk about that. Its June 2." Ramiro Pena and B.J. Upton hit home runs, Paul Maholm won his third straight decision and Atlanta beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Sunday to stretch their lead in the NL East. The Braves won two of three from the Nationals and lead Washington by 6.5 games -- the biggest advantage for any first-place team in the majors. Atlanta is 15-6 against NL East teams, including 7-3 against the Nationals. "Its big," said Upton of winning the series against the Nationals. "We know theyre a team thats going to be around all year. They have a good ballclub. Its good to win games against a team like that." The Nationals (28-29) fell below .500 for the first time since they were 13-14 on April 30. It may seem early in the season to Atlantas Gonzalez, but Washingtons Adam LaRoche said its late for the Nationals to be scuffling around .500. "We deserve to be where were at right now," LaRoche said. "Weve played like crap. And were still not in awful shape. "That only goes so far. Were pretty deep into the season, so weve got to get it going or we wont be there at the end. I dont sense any panic, anybody stressing over it, but itd be nice to pick it up." Washington manager Davey Johnson said the teams sagging offence could get a lift as outfielder Jayson Werth is expected to come off the 15-day disabled list for Tuesdays start of a home series against the Mets. "Theres still plenty of time," Johnson said. "We can right the ship and get things going in the right direction. Weve still got plenty of time. "The offence is just sputtering a little bit. Itll be good to get Jayson back. Our guys are certainly capable. Theyve just got to start doing it. Thats all. Its that simple." Ian Desmond hit a homer for Washington in the sixth inning to cut Atlantas lead to 4-3. Freddie Freeman answered with a bases-loaded, two-run double in the bottom of the inning. Paul Maholm (7-4) allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits in six innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save. Washington rookie Nathan Karns (0-1) gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. Karns allowed two homers. He has given up four homers in his two starts. Upton, who had the game-winning hit in the Braves 2-1 win over the Nationals in 10 innings on Saturday night, hit a second-inning homer off Karns to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead. The two-game surge was much-needed for Upton, who has RBIs in back-to-back games for only the second time this season. "Good for him," Gonzalez said. "His at-bats keep getting better and better and better. Thats the B.J. Upton that we want to see. Its good that hes coming along. "Hopefully hell run off 10 or 12 games like this." The Braves led 2-0 before Karns recorded an out. Ryan Zimmermans 10th error on a wild throw to first allowed Andrelton Simmons to reach base. Pena hit Karns next pitch about five rows deep into the right-field seats for his third homer. Washington tied the game with two runs in the second. LaRoche doubled and moved to third on Ian Desmonds bunt single. Tyler Moores single to left field drove in LaRoche. With two outs, Karns hit a grounder to Freeman at first base. Maholm dropped Freemans toss to first base for an error as Desmond scored. Karns was pulled after giving up a single to Justin Upton and a two-out walk to Evan Gattis in the fifth. Brian McCanns single off Zack Duke drove in Upton for a 4-2 lead. Desmonds seventh homer cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth before Freemans bases-loaded double off Duke in the bottom of the inning pushed the lead to three runs. Freemans drive hit the yellow line on the top of the left-field wall. Three umpires left the field for a video review to confirm the on-field ruling the hit was a double. "I blame it on the wind," Freeman said with a smile. "Its a big park. Cmon guys, move the fences in." Washington right-hander Erik Davis, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, pitched 1 2-3 perfect innings in his major league debut. NOTES: The Braves held out slumping right fielder Jason Heyward, who struck out in each of his three at-bats on Saturday night, leaving his batting average at .142. Justin Upton moved to right field and Gattis started in left field. ... B.J. Upton made back-to-back starts for the first time since May 21-22. ... The Braves open a three-game series against Pittsburgh on Monday night as RHP Kris Medlen, still looking for his second win, faces RHP A.J. Burnett. The Nationals, off on Monday, return home to open a series against the Mets on Tuesday night when RHP Jordan Zimmermann faces RHP Jeremy Hefner. Ryan Ramczyk Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Jim Dombrowski Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-shy-tuttle-jersey-large-2452e.html . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Chuck Muncie Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Roman Harper Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. FORT WORTH, Texas -- Johnny Sauter is still alone in qualifying for the title-deciding race in the first Chase in the NASCAR Truck Series.Sauter won his second consecutive playoff race Friday night with a late pass of Chase contender Matt Crafton, getting a victory at Texas that prevented anyone else from clinching a spot to contend for the championship in the finale at Homestead in two weeks.This is amazing, Sauter said after climbing out of the No. 21 Chevrolet in Victory Lane. I feel very lucky to be here. ... Matt was content to keep running the bottom, so Im going to the top.Just before reaching the line with two laps remaining, Sauter went high and passed Crafton for the lead.There were only three yellow flags in the 147-lap race, each after the caution clock had expired. Crafton took the lead after the final restart.But just like at Texas in June, Crafton got passed on the high side late and finished second. Rookie driver William Byron, another Chase contender, beat him five months ago after his winning pass with five laps remaining.It is what it is, Crafton said. Im not worried about the Chase. Im worried about winning races. The Chase will take care of itself.It was Sauters third win this season. He won the opener at Daytona and last week at Martinsville to earnn the first of four spots available for a chance to win the inaugural Chase championship for trucks.ddddddddddddWith only next weeks race at Phoenix before the finale at Homestead, there are still three spots up for grab.The next four drivers after Sauter in the points -- Bryon, Christopher Bell, Crafton and Timothy Peters -- are separated by only five points. Ben Kennedy is the sixth driver still in Chase contention.If Sauter or a non-Chase contender win at Phoenix, the final three spots would be determined by points.Polesitter Spencer Gallagher, who led three times for 88 laps, was in front with the final caution came out. But he dropped six spots on pit race and restarted seventh on the restart with 18 laps to go, when Sauter and Crafton got out front.The only 15 laps Sauter led were those right after the final caution. Sauter led twice for only six laps.I was able to throw caution to the wind, Sauter said.Sauter did offer one apology after the race. That was to the fans for not doing a customary extended burnout on the frontstretch of the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked track.I know that was lame, he said. Ive got to have this truck for Homestead. ' ' '