Washington Nationals Beat Brewers 3-2, Snap 7 Game Skid
Today, two unlikely heroes helped the Washington Nationals snap their seven game losing streak
The Washington Nationals snapped their seven game losing streak and avoided being swept in back-to-back series with a 3-2 win against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tanner Roark, who was starting in place of Stephen Strasburg (now on the DL), shut out the Brewers offense. Meanwhile, Jose Lobaton and Clint Robinson provided the lone runs that were the difference this afternoon.
For five innings, the Washington Nationals managed only one hit against Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson. While Nelson walked five batters in five innings, the Nats came away with no runs. Their best chance came in the top of the fifth when Bryce Harper flew out to the warning track in center field with the bases loaded.
As for Roark, he was able to keep the Brewers offense off the board all day. He went seven innings, gave up seven hits, struck out seven, and walked one on 95 pitches (63 strikes) in the win.
During the bottom of the fourth, the Brewers had runners on the corners and two men in scoring position on separate occasions, but Roark struck out Chris Carter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis to get out of the jam.
In the top of the seventh, the Washington Nationals finally got on the board. Lobaton led off the seventh by hitting a solo home run to left against Jacob Barnes. It was Lobaton’s first home run of the season.
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One inning later, after Anthony Rendon drew a two-out walk, Robinson hit a two-run home run to right against Michael Blazek (his third of the year) to increase the lead to 3-0.
Milwaukee would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning. Oliver Perez struck out the only batter he faced (Scooter Gennett) before Dusty Baker handed the ball to Blake Treinen. Treinen would give up a triple to Ryan Braun, who eventually came around to score on a Jonathan Lucroy RBI groundout.
After a Carter single, Baker went to Shawn Kelley, who was trying to convert a four out save after failing to do so on Wednesday night against Los Angeles. Kelley struck out Nieuwenhis to end the eighth.
Kelley would strike out the first two hitters in the ninth before pinch-hitter Martin Maldonando crushed a solo home run to left field, his second of the season, to cut the lead to 3-2. Then, Jonathan Villar hit a ball to left that Jayson Werth lost in the sun that ended up being a triple. But, Werth redeemed himself by catching a flyball hit by Gennett to end the game and secure Kelley’s third save of the season.
Next: Strasburg On 15-Day DL With Upper Back Strain
Next Game: The Washington Nationals (44-32) are back at Nats Park tomorrow night to begin a three game series against the New York Mets (40-34). You can watch the game at 7:05 p.m ET on MASN or MLB Network. Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 2.08 ERA) will start for the Mets against Joe Ross (6-4, 3.11) for the Nats.