Update on Desmond's back and the pitchers speak after 6-4 win

The Nationals' quick start paid dividends late in a 6-4 series-clinching victory over the Braves on Tuesday night.

First baseman Adam LaRoche, the co-Player of the Week in the National League, had two singles and two RBIs has the Nationals built a 5-0 lead against right-hander Ervin Santana after two innings.

"That doesn't happen too often against that guy," LaRoche said. "He's a pretty good pitcher. He's got a few different pitches and a lot of times they all look the same coming out of his hand. So he can be pretty deceptive. ... They came back and took advantage of a couple of our mistakes. We ended up needing most of those runs."

LaRoche is now 7-for-16 (.438) with three homers and seven RBIs so far on this homestand. He broke down the first two big hits against Santana.

"I'm seeing it OK. The first one was up in the zone, it was a mistake," LaRoche said. "The second was actually a pretty good pitch. Just kind of stuck the bat out got the meat of the bat on the ball and found a hole. He just fell behind on a few guys. I think that cost him a couple of runs. Pretty good stuff again."

So is LaRoche on his best run of the season at the plate?

"It feels good, it doesn't feel great," LaRoche said. "I don't know how to explain that other than just from experience. I know when it feels really good. But it feels good. I feel like I am slowing things down, going a little deeper in counts and getting some pitches to hit. Whole lineup is looking pretty good right now."

The Nationals now lead the NL East by nine games over Atlanta, earning their first series victory against their rivals since September 2013.

"It feels like we are that much closer," LaRoche said. "Again not to take anything for granted until this thing's sealed up, but these are big. This time of year, playing the team chasing you, to be able to win a couple."

One major key for the Nationals on Tuesday was the work of their bullpen. Aaron Barrett, Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen and Drew Storen combined to allow no runs and strike out four in the final three innings for the win.

Barrett was asked to go longer than one frame, ending up with 1 1/3 innings pitched. He said he was prepared to go two innings if asked.

"Obviously, when you get stretched out a little bit, you are able to go a little longer," Barrett said. "I threw a few more pitches. I think my last outing in Syracuse I went two innings. So it just kind of helps you prepare to throw a few more extra pitches and kind of be able to go a little bit longer innings and ultimately help someone else from having to come in. So I think that helps a lot."

Detwiler arrived for a lefty-lefty matchup against Freddie Freeman in the eighth. The Braves were threatening, down just two runs, with a man on second base and one away. Detwiler struck out Freeman. Craig Stammen then struck out Justin Upton to end the frame.

"It's a guy I faced in the past," Detwiler said of his battle with Freeman. "I try to take the same approach, try to remember what I did last time, do some a little different. If I need to trick him a little bit. Really just try to get a ground ball in that situation."

He used his rarely employed curveball to strike out Freeman.

"I really don't know where the curveball came from," Detwiler said. "It's not a pitch I've thrown a lot. But I felt comfortable with it in the bullpen. In an 0-2 count ,I have a little space to kind of do what I want, make sure I bounce it there. It was down. It still wasn't exactly where I wanted it. But it worked out. He was off balance a little bit."

Barrett said having so many great relievers availabl affords manager Matt Williams the ability to match up if he needs to from batter to batter in the late innings.

"It's a deep bullpen," Barrett said. "I think from top to bottom, no matter who goes out there, they're going to get the job done. I think everyone in the bullpen and the team has confidence that any of those guys can get the job done. Everyone has proved that so far. It's just really fun to be a part of."

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond left in the top of the sixth due to tightness in his back. He was replaced by Danny Espinosa.

"It's all right. Before the game, it kind of tightened up on me," Desmond said. "I tried to do what I could to get it loosened up. It kind of comes with the territory. Normally, by like the second inning, kind of get the blood flowing it all kind of goes away. But I think it was the fourth inning it just wasn't cooperating. So I just figured it probably be smart to just get out of there and not create any further damage."

Desmond said he wasn't injured during the game and he expects to be out of the lineup Wednesday more as a precautionary measure.

"It kind of flared up before the game," Desmond said. "And then just keep on going and you're just trying to protect it. If you're not helping the team, you should probably just pull yourself out.

"I feel like I can play tomorrow. This is something I have had before. Sleep tonight, do some treatment. Should be all right tomorrow, (but I) anticipate not playing."

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was able to go six innings and earn his 11th win, but he was first to admit it wasn't his best outing.

"I felt OK. I didn't have my best stuff," Zimmermann said. "Fastball was like a tick off. I ran into some deep counts and a couple of at-bats (with Emilio) Bonifacio cost my 15, 20 pitches. So that's why I wasn't able to go longer. Overall, I felt OK, just a little bit of a battle tonight."