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Werth lifts Nationals over Brewers

Jul 21, 2014 - 12:15 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Jayson Werth's walk-off double lifted the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the rubber match of a three-game set on Sunday.

Denard Span singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth off Rob Wooten (1-4), and after a fielder's choice erased Span at second, Anthony Rendon raced home from first when Werth slapped the game-winning line drive to the left-field corner.

"He's a good hitter. He knows when to work a walk or get on base," said Nationals manager Matt Williams on Werth. "He knows what to do. He's been really good for us all year."

Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer and Adam LaRoche scored twice for the Nationals, who have won two straight and four of their last five games.

Rafael Soriano (2-0) earned the win despite giving up the game-tying run in the top of the ninth. Starter Gio Gonzalez lasted just 3 1/3 innings after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks.

Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy and Khris Davis each drove in a run for Milwaukee while Yovani Gallardo went six innings and gave up four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in his start.

The Brewers loaded the bases in the second, but failed to capitalize after Gonzalez escaped the jam by striking out Gallardo and Gomez.

LaRoche and Bryce Harper both singled to place runners on the corners with one out in the home half. Ian Desmond knocked an RBI single to right to open the scoring and moved up to second on the throw. Washington could only plate one, however, as Jose Lobaton lined into an inning-ending double play.

In the third, Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez both walked with one out. Braun hustled home on Lucroy's groundout to the mound and Davis' base hit to left gave the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

Milwaukee tacked on another run in the fourth. Jean Segura smacked a double to deep center and moved to third on Gallardo's sacrifice bunt, which ended Gonzalez's outing. Segura raced home on Gomez's groundout off Craig Stammen and slid under the tag of Lobaton.

Zimmerman tied the game with a two-run blast to right-center field in the bottom half. Lobaton drove a two-out double off the wall in right, moved to third on Stammen's infield hit and scored on Gallardo's wild pitch for a 4-3 Washington edge.

"Every time you have the lead, you have to figure out a way to maintain it," said Gallardo. "I hung a curveball to Zimmerman that he went the other way with."

Scooter Gennett singled and Gomez walked off Soriano in the top of the ninth. Weeks brought them home with a single up the middle, knotting the game at 4-4.

Game Notes

Gonzalez notched his 1,000th career strikeout after fanning Weeks to start the third. He is the first pitcher to accomplish the feat in a Nats uniform ... Braun extended his hitting streak to eight games ... Zimmerman and Desmond have both hit in seven straight games ... The Nationals are 44-3 when scoring four or more runs ... Washington has won 10 of its last 14 series.