WASHINGTON -- It has been a difficult season for Ricky Nolasco, a veteran pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels.

The right-hander entered Wednesday with a 5.24 ERA, allowed five earned runs in each of his last two starts and hadn't won on the road in nearly two months.

But Nolasco got credit for the win as he survived cramps in his calves on a humid day in the nation's capital as the Angels posted a 3-2 win over the first-place Washington Nationals. His victory gave the Angels seven wins in eight games going into a series Friday in Baltimore against another team with wild-card aspirations.

"Every five days, I give the team everything I have," the serious-minded Nolasco said while standing by his locker. "It takes 25 guys to do what we have to do. We have to keep it going."

Nolasco is 2-0 in his last four starts while allowing 13 runs.

"He works quick. As a defense we love that," first baseman C.J. Cron said of Nolasco.

Kole Calhoun belted a two-run homer to right in the sixth as the Angels earned a split of a two-game interleague series.

It was the 14th homer of the year for Calhoun, who went deep against starter Tanner Roark to make it 3-2. Nolasco (6-12) left the game in the sixth inning with two outs and a 2-2 count on catcher Jose Lobaton.

"It was a hot one today," Nolasco said. "I just tried to slow the game down a bit."

The Nationals will begin a road trip Thursday in San Diego after going 6-3 on the homestand.

"It went well but you tend to remember your last game. (Going) 7-2 sounds better than 6-3, but we'll take 6-3," Washington manager Dusty Baker said.

Nolasco picked up his first road win since June 26 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Angels led 3-2 when the right-hander left the game. He allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Nolasco was replaced by Jesse Chavez, who recorded four outs. Angels rookie Keynan Middleton pitched a scoreless eighth. Cam Bedrosian worked the ninth for his sixth save as he retired Howie Kendrick on a grounder for the last out with a runner on third after nearly throwing a wild pitch to allow the tying run to score.

Roark (9-8) went seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts, and gave up two homers.

"He threw the ball great today except for the two home runs by left handed hitters. I'm sure that he'd probably want those fastballs back on location," Baker said.

Ryan Zimmerman hit his 28th homer of the year, a two-run shot in the first, to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

It was the fourth homer for Zimmerman in 54 at-bats against Nolasco, a former member of the Marlins starting rotation.

"That is what he does," Nolasco said of Zimmerman. "He is still a really good hitter."

Nolasco gave up his major league-leading 31st homer of the season to Zimmerman, who singled in the eighth but was thrown out at third after Adam Lind reached on an error to stymie a threat.

The Nationals also left the bases loaded in the fourth as Wilmer Difo, who had singled in his first two at-bats, struck out off Nolasco. "I wasn't trying to give in," said the pitcher.

Luis Valbuena, who doubled in the second, hit a solo homer in the fifth just over the fence in center to pull the Angels to within 2-1 against Roark.

"Turned out to be a pitcher's duel and we ended up on the bottom of that," Roark said.

The Angels are 62-59 while the first-place Nationals are 71-47.

"Ricky battled," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "With Zimmerman, he missed a spot with his fastball. It was hot out there. He started to cramp with two outs in the sixth and we made the change. It was just dehydration. It looked like he was a little uncomfortable out there."

NOTES: Washington OF Brian Goodwin (left groin strain) went on the disabled list Wednesday and the Nationals called up OF Alejandro de Aza from Triple-A Syracuse. In addition, SS Trea Turner (right wrist fracture) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. ... Angels LHP Andrew Heaney (left elbow UCL injury) will make his 2017 debut when he starts Friday in Baltimore. "We are excited to have him back," manager Mike Scioscia said. ... Washington RHP Edwin Jackson (3-2, 3.86 ERA) will start Thursday in San Diego against Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (11-8, 4.06). ... Angels OF Ben Revere played in 103 games last season for Washington. He started Wednesday and was 0-for-4.