Braves 6, Nationals 3
Jason Heyward singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and brothers Justin and B.J. Upton combined for seven hits as visiting Atlanta won its 13th consecutive game.
Atlanta scored three runs in the eighth to sweep Washington and extend its National League East lead to a staggering 15½ games. Kris Medlen (9-10) allowed three runs on as many hits in seven innings, B.J. Upton went 4-for-5 and Craig Kimbrel earned his 36th save.
Washington’s Jayson Werth finished with two hits and two runs scored, including a two-run homer in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2. Ryan Mattheus (0-1) gave up the first two runs in the eighth as the Nationals lost for the 13th time in 19 contests.
Heyward’s single to right off Ian Krol plated Andrelton Simmons with two outs in the eighth to put the Braves ahead 4-3. Justin Upton’s third hit of the night - a double to left - scored Joey Terdoslavich and Heyward as the Braves won for the 16th time in 20 games.
Justin Upton lined his 21st homer of the season in the seventh to put the Braves up 3-2, but Ian Desmond’s fielder’s choice plated Werth in the bottom half to even the score. Kimbrel loaded the bases in the ninth, but got Wilson Ramos to line out to Heyward to end the game.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Justin Upton extended his hitting streak to 12 games, and has five homers in seven contests in August. … Atlanta 3B Chris Johnson, the NL’s leading hitter at .339, snapped an 0-for-10 skid with a 2-for-5 effort. … Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann, who allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings, is 1-3 in his past five starts.