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Espinosa, Nats earn doubleheader sweep of Brewers

Apr 18, 2011 - 4:15 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Danny Espinosa hit a three-run triple in the seventh inning and the Nationals beat the Brewers, 5-1, to sweep a doubleheader.

The Nationals also swept the three-game series, their first sweep since June 8-10, 2010 when they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game set.

Jerry Hairston Jr. went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in the victory.

Livan Hernandez (2-1) earned the win with seven innings of work, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while fanning three.

"Each time through, our starters have given us every opportunity to win a ballgame," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. "We're going to swing the bats and today we did."

Reliever Kameron Loe (1-1) took the loss in 1/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on four hits, and the Brewers suffered their second series sweep of the year.

Washington struck first when Hairston hit a two-out, solo home run into the left field bleachers in the second inning.

Yuniesky Betancourt tied the game in the fourth with a single that scored Prince Fielder after he doubled and was moved to third on Casey McGehee's single.

The tie lasted until the seventh when Loe entered the game for Brewers starter Marco Estrada. He allowed three consecutive singles to Laynce Nix, Ian Desmond and Hairston before he got pinch-hitter Matt Stairs to hit a grounder to Rickie Weeks, who threw home for the force out.

Espinosa came up next and hit a bases-clearing triple that scored Desmond, Hairston, and Stairs for a 4-1 Washington lead.

Adam LaRoche finished the scoring with a home run in the eighth for the Nationals.

Estrada struck out seven in six innings, allowing one run on five hits and one walk.

"I made good pitches, but we lost and that's what matters," Estrada said. "Livan pitched real well, so you have to tip your hat to him. I've seen him do it many a time. He's a good pitcher."

Game Notes

Weeks extended his hitting streak to 10 games...Hernandez threw 88 pitches and 57 for strikes...Milwaukee is now 2-6 on the road and 5-2 at home this season.