Nationals 4 - 3 Astros
Final
  for this game

LaRoche saves his best for last, lifts Nats past Astros

Apr 30, 2014 - 6:18 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Adam LaRoche collected both of his hits in the eighth and ninth innings to help the Washington Nationals take a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a two-game set.

Jayson Werth led off the eighth inning with a single to center that chased Anthony Bass after one inning in relief. LaRoche then greeted Raul Valdes with a long double to left-center that plated Werth.

Houston couldn't muster anything in the home half of the eighth and Josh Fields (0-3) walked Denard Span to lead off the ninth. Span stole second during Anthony Rendon's at-bat, then moved over to third on Rendon's groundout.

After a walk to Werth to put runners at the corners, LaRoche stroked an RBI single out to right to give Washington the lead.

Tyler Clippard (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the win and Rafael Soriano worked around two walks in the ninth to secure his fifth save of the season.

"You know you just go out there and try to have good at-bats," said Werth. "Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don't. The important right now is just winning ballgames."

Werth hit a solo homer and Jose Lobaton added an RBI in the Nationals' third win in their last four games.

Gio Gonzalez pitched six innings and allowed three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in the no-decision.

Washington has won nine of the last 10 meetings with the Astros and 14-of-18.

Jarred Cosart also picked up a no-decision for Houston after hurling six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with six punchouts.

George Springer knocked in two runs and Dexter Fowler added an RBI in the loss which ended the Astros' two-game winning streak.

"Today I felt in sync," said Cosart. "When we put up the three-spot (in the third) it gave me a lot of confidence to work with the lead."

With two outs in the first, Werth poked one over the short porch in left to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.

Lobaton yanked a double down into the right-field corner that scored Kevin Frandsen for a 2-0 edge in the top of the third.

Houston answered with three in the home half of the third, with Matt Dominguez leading off the frame with a double. Two batters later, Fowler knocked him in with a single to center.

Jason Castro doubled to left in the next at-bat and Springer followed with a single to left that scored Fowler and Castro to give the hosts a 3-2 lead.

Game Notes

Soriano picked up his 17th consecutive save dating back to last season ... Washington outhit Houston, 9-5 ... Springer committed his fourth error of the season ... The Nationals were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base ... Houston was 2-for-5 with RISP and left seven men on.






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