Hernan Perez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning to back an effective pitching performance by Zach Davies, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Tuesday night to clinch their second road series win of the season.
Aaron Hill went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Brewers, who will attempt to complete a three-game sweep on Wednesday. Milwaukee was 1-8-4 in its first 13 series on the road, defeating only Atlanta in May.
Davies (6-4) allowed two runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. The rookie retired 10 in a row before giving up three straight singles in the seventh.
Washington loaded the bases with two outs for reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, who looked at a third strike from Will Smith to end the threat.
Jeremy Jeffress worked the ninth for his 23rd save.
Milwaukee improved to 4-1 against the NL East leaders with one game left. It’s the Brewers’ first season series win against Washington since 2010.
Perez put Milwaukee up 3-1 in the sixth with a drive off Gio Gonzalez (4-8), who is 1-7 in nine starts since May 18.
Hill added a two-run drive in the seventh off Blake Treinen.
The highlight of the night for the Nationals was having four players selected to the All-Star Game, including Harper and NL batting leader Daniel Murphy.
Murphy violated two of baseball’s basic rules as the leadoff hitter in the eighth inning. After running slow from the batter’s box on a liner to right, he made the first out at third base trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
Neither pitcher had a perfect inning until Davies put down the Nationals in order in the fifth. Heading into the sixth, the teams combined for 11 hits and four walks but only two runs.
Washington used an RBI single by Anthony Rendon to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Milwaukee tied it in the third with a run-scoring single by Hill.
Brewers outfielder Domingo Santana (elbow soreness) “is not nearly close” to coming off the DL, manager Craig Counsell said.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker was nursing a cold and acknowledged that “everyone was dragging” during Monday’s 11 a.m. game.
Up next for the Brewers is RHP Matt Garza (1-1, 3.74 ERA), who makes his fifth start of the season in the series finale Wednesday. Although Garza is 1-4 with a 7.01 ERA lifetime against Washington, he beat the Nats 6-5 on June 25.
For the Nationals, Tanner Roark (7-5, 2.93) is 2-0 lifetime against the Brewers. He pitched seven shutout innings on June 26 in a 3-2 win.
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