Braves 5, Nationals 4: Rookie Andrelton Simmons was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as host Atlanta rallied from an early four-run deficit to upend Washington.

Freddie Freeman belted his 20th homer and fell a double short of the cycle. Jason Heyward launched a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning for Atlanta, which overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second to move within 6 1/2 games of the National League East-leading Nationals.

Ryan Mattheus (5-2) entered in the eighth and yielded a single to David Ross to lead off the inning. A pair of walks loaded the bases before Mattheus hit Simmons with a fastball to give the Braves a 5-4 lead.

Eric O'Flaherty (3-0) retired the side in the eighth to pick up the win and Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 36th save.

All was not rosy for Atlanta, which saw catcher Brian McCann exit the contest after the second inning with tendinitis in his right hamstring. The team said that he is day-to-day with the injury.

Former Brave Adam LaRoche belted his 30th homer with a two-run blast in the first inning. Jayson Werth had two hits for the Nationals, who dropped their second straight game to Atlanta after winning 12 of their previous 15 overall.

GAME NOTEBOOK: LaRoche reached the 30-homer plateau for the second time in his career. He went deep 32 times during the 2006 season with Atlanta. ... The Braves activated RHP Ben Sheets from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday. Sheets, who was sidelined with right shoulder inflammation, will work out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. ... Washington manager Davey Johnson was ejected after taking issue with a tough call on an error in the sixth inning. Heyward followed with a two-run homer to tie the game.