Jayson Werth hit a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth after the Brewers tied it in the top of the inning and the Washington Nationals beat Milwaukee 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.
Washington’s bullpen tossed five scoreless innings in relief of Gio Gonzalez until Rickie Weeks’ RBI single in the ninth off closer Rafael Soriano (1-1), who earned the win despite blowing his third save in 25 chances.
Anthony Rendon reached on a fielder’s choice against Rob Wooten (1-4) with two outs in the ninth. He scored from first on Werth’s drive into the left field corner.
Washington took two of three in the series between teams that entered Sunday as division leaders.
Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, including a two-run homer, for the Nationals.
Pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett singled with one out against Soriano in the ninth, took second on Carlos Gomez’s walk and scored on Weeks’ base hit.
The Brewers were 1 of 8 with runners in scoring position before Weeks’ at-bat. Khris Davis and Jonathan Lucroy drove in runs for Milwaukee.
Staked to a 3-1 lead, Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings. Gallardo has not won since June 19 and is 0-2 with 7.33 ERA in his last four starts.
Gonzalez allowed three runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts on 88 pitches over 3 1-3 innings. He left in the fourth with a runner at third and trailing 2-1. Gomez’ RBI groundout against Craig Stammen gave the Brewers 3-1 lead.
Gonzalez had his start pushed back one day after flight issues caused a delay in his return to Washington following the All-Star break.
Stammen retired all eight batters he faced after replacing Gonzalez.
Zimmerman’s opposite field homer tied the game at 3-3. Jose Lobaton scored later in the inning with two outs on Gallardo’s wild pitch.
Milwaukee loaded the bases with out in the second inning due in part to Zimmerman’s throwing error. Gonzalez escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
The errant toss was the first error in 13 games for Zimmerman, who has battled right shoulder injuries, since returning to third base on June 30.
Ian Desmond’s RBI hit in the second put Washington up 1-0.
Notes: Adam LaRoche’s second-inning single snapped a 0-for-18 skid. …Gonzalez’s final strikeout doubled as the 1,000th for his career. …Milwaukee improved/fell to (29-21) on the road this season. …The Brewers return to Milwaukee for a seven-game homestand, starting with Cincinnati on Monday. Wily Peralta (10-6, 3.72) faces Reds starters and fellow RHP Mat Latos (2-1, 2.79). …RHP Doug Fister starts for Washington on Monday at Colorado versus Rockies LHP Franklin Morales (5-4, 5.26).
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