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Nats hit 3 HRs, top Brewers

Jul 29, 2012 - 2:56 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Washington hit three home runs to back six strong innings from Jordan Zimmermann as the Nationals topped the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-1, in the third test of a four-game set at Miller Park.

Corey Brown, Tyler Moore and Ryan Zimmerman each went deep for the Nationals, who have won seven of their last eight games.

Zimmermann (8-6) allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out five to win his fifth straight decision. Tyler Clippard tossed a perfect ninth to record his 19th save of the season.

Randy Wolf (3-7) surrendered all four runs on nine hits and a walk through seven innings to take the loss for Milwaukee, which has dropped eight of its last nine.

"I thought he threw the ball well. They didn't square up too many balls against him. They squared up on four balls and three were home runs," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said about Wolf. "It's frustrating for him. I know how hard he works. When he makes a mistake it ends up being a home run."

After the Brewers squandered a two-out double by Rickie Weeks in the second inning and stranded runners on second and third in the third, Washington broke the scoreless tie in the fourth when Brown, who was a late replacement for All-Star rookie Bryce Harper due to flu-like symptoms, opened the frame with a blast over the left-field wall for his first career hit.

"It was great. It's always nice to see someone get their first one," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said about Brown's home run.

Michael Morse singled two batters later and was eventually gunned down at the plate by Norichika Aoki on Adam LaRoche's base hit to right, but Moore followed with a two-run shot to left field to hand the Nationals a 3-0 lead.

Milwaukee answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Aramis Ramirez doubled off the wall in right-center field, advanced to third on a Corey Hart ground out and came home on Weeks' single up the middle.

Washington, though, got that run back in the fifth inning on Zimmerman's homer to straightaway center field to make it a 4-1 game.

Zimmermann then retired the next six batters he faced before Drew Storen stranded a man on second in the seventh, Sean Burnett worked a scoreless eighth and Clippard shut the door in the ninth to close out the game.

Game Notes

Brown had gone 0-for-10 prior to his first career hit...Wolf fell to 9-6 in 22 career starts against the Nationals...Washington improved to 16-8 in the month of July...The Nationals hit 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base...Milwaukee went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded six...Johnson recorded his 100th win with Washington. He is now 100-83 as the Nationals manager.