Braves 9, Cubs 5: Brian McCann singled in the go-ahead run in a four-run ninth and Chris Johnson drove in a pair among three hits as visiting Atlanta cut its magic number to one.

Freddie Freeman added a three-run homer and scored twice for the Braves, who can clinch the National League East with a victory on Saturday or with a loss by the Washington Nationals. David Carpenter (4-1) turned in a perfect inning of relief to earn the win and keep Atlanta 8 1/2 games ahead of the Nationals.

Jordan Schafer drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and moved up on a groundout and a flyout before coming in on McCann’s hit off Kevin Gregg (2-5). Johnson followed with an RBI single and Andrelton Simmons doubled in a pair as Chicago fell for the sixth time in seven games.

Atlanta jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Johnson’s solo homer in the second and Freeman’s three-run blast to center in the third. Paul Maholm’s double to right-center in the fourth made it a 5-1 gap before the Cubs began to claw their way back.

Starlin Castro took Maholm out to left-center with a solo home run in the fifth and Donnie Murphy added a solo blast in the sixth before Luis Valbuena’s RBI single cut it to 5-4. Dioner Navarro ripped a 3-1 fastball from Luis Avilan onto Waveland Ave. beyond the left-field stands in the seventh to knot it up.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Maholm was charged with four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings while Cubs starter Scott Baker allowed five runs on four hits and three walks in four frames. Baker, who is making his way back from Tommy John elbow surgery, had yielded a total of one run in his first two starts. … Navarro’s homer was the first surrendered by Avilan in 62 total innings this season and only the second of his career. … Braves OF Jason Heyward (broken jaw) returned to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 21 and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored before being lifted for a pinch hitter. Heyward wore a protective shield over his jaw on his batting helmet and will be eased back into the lineup full time.