Dansby Swanson gave the Braves an early lead with a two-run homer in the second inning, but the rookie shortstop also committed one of the two defensive miscues that allowed the Nationals to tally three runs in the third inning. After Daniel Murphy answered Matt Kemp's game-tying homer in the third with a solo shot in the fourth, Atlanta tied the game with Suzuki's one-out double in the fifth.
While Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez needed 116 pitches to complete 5 2/3 innings, Atlanta knuckleballer R.A. Dickey tallied 116 pitches over 5 1/3 innings.