Nationals Power Past Orioles, 6-2
By Scott Bline
Jul 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) is congratulated by third base coach Bob Henley (14) after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
After rain caused Tuesday’s game to be cancelled, the series moved down the road to Baltimore where Doug Fister (8-2) and the Nationals took the second game against the Orioles 6-2 at Camden Yards.
The Nats started the scoring with two in the first when Jayson Werth doubled home Anthony Rendon and Adam LaRoche then singled home Werth. The Orioles scored one of their own in the first with a Chris Davis RBI single.
In the second, Wilson Ramos hit his third home run on the season; then, in the fourth, the two teams traded home runs when Ian Desmond hit his 16th of the season and Manny Machado hit his ninth. The Nats made the score 5-2 in the fifth with a LaRoche sac fly after a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases.
Bud Norris (7-6) made his first start after being on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin. Norris lasted 4+ innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts.
Brad Brach relieved Norris in the fourth, and in the seventh he served up Werth’s ninth home run of the season, taking the score to 6-2. Werth, who hit two home runs in May and June combined, has now hit three in his last six games.
Fister has been one of the Nats most consistent starters on the season, recording quality starts in nine of his 12 starts, including Wednesday’s game. For the game, Fister allowed two earned runs in seven innings of work with seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Fister has now pitched 7 or more innings seven times on the season. Fister was aided by some strong defensive plays by Rendon and Denard Span.
Drew Storen and Ross Detwiler combined to pitch two perfect innings of relief.
Werth went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. LaRoche also drove in two. Danny Espinosa made his first start in the field since Bryce Harper’s return from the disabled list. Espinosa finished the night 0-for-3 with a walk, but he did score a run.
For the Orioles, Machado has owned the Nats pitchers so far in this series. In the first game he went 5-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs while tonight he went 3-for-4 with the home run and two singles.
The Braves lost their third straight game to the Mets, fourth overall, and the Nats have regained first place in the East.
On Thursday, the Nats look to take the final game in the home and home series with Gio Gonzalez (6-4) pitching against Wei-Yin Chen (8-3).