WASHINGTON -- Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies says he enjoys going up against Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals, who is also a product of the San Diego area.

But the challenges for Hamels go beyond facing Strasburg and the other hitters with the Nationals. Hamels had a hit against Strasburg on Saturday and allowed only one run in eight innings in the Phillies' 8-1 victory.

"Strasburg is a tremendous pitcher," said Hamels, who had a single against Strasburg during a two-run fourth inning. "It is fun to go up against a pitcher like that."

And what about his hit? "Kudos for me," Hamels said with a smile.

Hamels lowered his ERA to 2.98 in his fifth career showdown with Strasburg.

"Every single one of them can hit the longball," Hamels said of the hitters in the Washington lineup. "You have to keep bearing down."

Said Phillies manage Ryne Sandberg: "He was really in control. He pitched backwards at times. He was really outstanding."

Hamels got plenty of offensive support as first baseman Ryan Howard had three hits and two runs batted in, left fielder Ben Revere scored three runs and had two hits, and third baseman Maikel Franco had two hits, including a two-run home run on a 0-and-2 pitch in the third off Strasburg.

"It is frustrating," said Strasburg, whose ERA rose to 6.50 as he gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. "I am not pitching to my ability. I have to keep grinding.

"It is definitely something I have never experienced before. It is a test. I am going to keep going."

Strasburg has allowed 15 earned runs over 12 innings in his last three starts but manager Matt Williams vowed to keep Strasburg, who has had some minor ailments this season, in the rotation.

"The next opportunity for him is five days from now," Williams said.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Nationals, who also had won their last seven games at home.

Washington made four errors, but it was the 11-hit attack of the Phillies that spoiled a beautiful afternoon for a sellout crowd of 41,722 fans.

Howard hit a single in the second, an RBI double in the third and long solo home run to lead off the fifth against rookie reliever A.J. Cole to give the Phillies a 7-0 lead.

"He is laying off (bad) pitches," Sandberg said of Howard, who has nine home runs since April 21. "He is on a steady roll. It shows the strides that he has made. I think he finds himself in a good spot."

Franco, called up from Triple-A on May 15, gave Hamels some breathing room with the home run off Strasburg (3-5).

"That was a big swing of the bat in the game," Sandberg said. "That was big with two outs. That was a bomb. That was a big blow in the game. Great swing. The power comes with him connecting."

Hamels (5-3) beat the Nationals for the first time in seven starts, as he allowed only five hits. He had lost his last three games in Washington, but is 12-0 in 18 starts since 2014 when the Phillies score at least three runs when he is in the game.

His bid for his seventh career shutout ended with an RBI double in the eighth by shortstop Ian Desmond.

Revere hit an RBI single in the fourth and later scored as shortstop Cesar Hernandez reached on an error by Desmond -- his 12th of the season.

That gave Philadelphia a 6-0 lead against Strasburg.

Second baseman Chase Utley, who would strike out three times, drove in a run with a grounder in the third and Howard followed with an RBI double to make it 2-0.

The next batter, Franco, drilled a two-run home run to right-center to make it 4-0.

Revere scored in the sixth to make it 8-0. He singled and came around to score on a shot by Hernandez, who appeared to have a double but was called out when he did not touch first base.

The Phillies (19-25) have won eight of their last 11 games, while Washington (25-18) lost for only the fifth time in the last 23.

NOTES: Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 4.94 ERA), a former minor leaguer with the Phillies, will face Philadelphia RHP Aaron Harang (4-3, 1.82 ERA) in the series finale Sunday. ... Washington OF Bryce Harper went 0-for-4 on Saturday, but has 11 home runs in May. ... The Phillies entered Saturday with a record of 6-16 on the road -- the lowest number of wins away from home of any team in the majors. ... Washington entered Saturday with a record of 18-4 since April 28. The Nationals have won their last six games decided by one or two runs.