ATLANTA – Steven Strasburg was dizzy, pale and had almost nothing to say in the oppressive heat.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson knew his dehydrated ace would not make another pitch after the third inning.

Strasburg, after taking three intravenous treatments, was wise to agree. According to the National Weather Service, Atlanta recorded its hottest-ever temperature Saturday at 106 degrees.

The previous all-time high – 105 – was set in 1980.

“I expected a lot more of myself, so by no means was I going out there thinking I wasn’t prepared for it,” Strasburg said. “I thought I did everything I could to be ready for it as far as hydrating and everything. Just got to learn from it.”

Strasburg (9-3) and the Nationals lost 7-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. He lasted just three innings to tie for the shortest outing of his 33-start career.

After returning to the dugout after allowing three runs in the third, Strasburg walked down the air-conditioned runway to the clubhouse, and Johnson noticed that he was breathing heavily.

“Pretty scary, and he wasn’t talking too good,” Johnson said. “I found out later he got a little dizzy out on the mound. The problem was that he was totally dehydrated. I think the doctor gave him, you know, three transfusions of saline, and he still wasn’t going to the bathroom.”

Johnson replaced him with Chien-Ming Wang.

Mike Minor (4-6) won for just the second time in 12 starts for the Braves.

CUBS 3, ASTROS 2: In Chicago, Anthony Rizzo hit his first homer with the Cubs, a two-run go-ahead shot in the fifth inning as Chicago won for the fourth time in five games.

Matt Garza (4-6) struggled but got the victory by working 5 1/3 innings. Five Cubs relievers combined to allow one hit and no runs over the final 3 2/3 innings with Carlos Marmol pitching the ninth for his seventh save in nine chances.

MARLINS 3, PHILLIES 2, In Miami, Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in two runs, and Mark Buehrle pitched seven strong innings as Miami won its third in a row.

PIRATES 7, CARDINALS 3: In St. Louis, Pedro Alvarez hit a grand slam in the first inning off suddenly scuffling 10-game winner Lance Lynn, and Andrew McCutchen had two hits before leaving with a sore left wrist to help Pittsburgh win its fourth in a row and reach a season-best seven games over .500.

METS 5, DODGERS 0: In Los Angeles, Johan Santana allowed three hits over eight innings, and Ike Davis hit a three-run homer as New York handed Los Angeles its season-worst seventh straight loss.

PADRES 8, ROCKIES 4: In Denver, Yasmani Grandal and Alexi Amarista each homered twice to lead San Diego.

BREWERS 10, DIAMONDBACKS 2: In Milwaukee, Ryan Braun homered twice and Cody Ransom added a three-run homer to lead Milwaukee.