Final
McLouth, Rendon lift Nationals past Astros
Jun 19, 2014 - 12:38 PM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Nate McLouth's go-ahead sacrifice fly in a three-run seventh inning led the Washington Nationals to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.Denard Span, Anthony Rendon, Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond each had two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who took both games in this short interleague set and won their eight straight against the Astros.
Starter Gio Gonzalez returned after missing close to a month with left shoulder inflammation and did not factor into the decision. The left-hander was reached for four runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts over five innings.
Aaron Barrett (3-0) recorded just one out to close the seventh to earn the win.
Jose Altuve supplied two hits and Matt Dominguez drove in two runs for Houston, which has dropped three straight games. Reliever Darin Downs (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up a run and failing to record an out in the seventh.
Starter Scott Feldman only lasted five innings and gave up two runs on six hits and three walks.
"I don't like going five," Feldman said. "It's tough to see (the bullpen) getting abused."
The Nationals overcame a 5-3 deficit in the seventh. Rendon clubbed a leadoff shot over the wall in left. Jayson Werth walked and moved to third on LaRoche's base hit. Werth came home after Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a force out to tie the game.
Desmond doubled and Danny Espinosa was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter McLouth's sac fly to the warning track in left gave Washington the lead.
"Guys got on base ahead of me and I brought one in," McLouth said on his pinch-hit RBI. "You just have to be ready."
Rafael Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth for his 15th save of the season.
In the first, Span hustled home on LaRoche's sac fly to left, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
Werth took a leadoff walk in the third, stole second and came home on Desmond's RBI single to center.
The Astros loaded the bases off Gonzalez to start the fourth. Dominguez tied the game with a base hit into the left-field gap, Jason Castro doubled down the line in left to bring in another run, and Jonathan Villar drove in another with a sac fly to left for a 4-2 advantage.
Washington got within in one during the sixth. Span's liner over the head of George Springer in right brought home Espinosa, but Span got thrown out at third on the play to end the frame.
Robbie Grossman walked to lead off the seventh, moved to third on Altuve's single and scored on Ross Detwiler's wild pitch with two outs. Springer walked and Detwiler plunked Jonathan Singleton to load the bases, but the runners were left stranded after Dominguez grounded into a force out.
Game Notes
Washington optioned left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Gonzalez ... Grossman is in the midst of an 0-for-17 slump ... The Nationals improved to 32-2 when scoring four or more runs ... Rendon is 9- for-18 with two home runs and seven RBI against the Astros this season.
- HOUSTON: 5
WASHINGTON: 6
Final
Jun 18 10:51 PM - Pinch-Hitter Nate McLouth sacrifice fly out to left scored Ryan Zimmerman. On the play, Danny Espinosa advances to second and Ian Desmond advances to third. Runners on second and third with two outs and Aaron Barrett due up.
Astros 5, Nationals 6 Bot 7, 2 OutsJun 18 10:20 PM - Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a fielder's choice, second to short scored Jayson Werth. Adam LaRoche out at second. Runner on first with one out and Ian Desmond due up.
Astros 5, Nationals 5 Bot 7, 1 OutJun 18 10:14 PM - Anthony Rendon lead-off Home Run (10) to left. Jayson Werth due up.
Astros 5, Nationals 4 Bot 7, 0 OutsJun 18 10:00 PM - Robbie Grossman scores on a wild pitch. Jose Altuve advances to second on a wild pitch. Runner on second with two outs and George Springer at the plate.
Astros 5, Nationals 3 Top 7, 2 OutsJun 18 9:50 PM - Denard Span doubled to right scored Danny Espinosa. Denard Span tagged out at third to end the inning.
Astros 4, Nationals 3 End 6Jun 18 9:34 PM - Jonathan Villar sacrifice fly out to left scored Matt Dominguez. Runner on second with one out and Robbie Grossman due up.
Astros 4, Nationals 2 Top 4, 1 OutJun 18 8:37 PM - Jason Castro doubled to left scored Jonathan Singleton. On the play, Matt Dominguez advances to third. Runners on second and third with none out and Jonathan Villar due up.
Astros 3, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJun 18 8:36 PM - Matt Dominguez singled to left scored Jose Altuve and George Springer. On the play, Jonathan Singleton advances to second. Runners on first and second with none out and Jason Castro due up.
Astros 2, Nationals 2 Top 4, 0 OutsJun 18 8:35 PM - Ian Desmond singled to center scored Jayson Werth. Runner on first with two outs and Danny Espinosa due up.
Astros 0, Nationals 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsJun 18 8:15 PM - Adam LaRoche sacrifice fly out to left scored Denard Span. Runner on second with two outs and Ryan Zimmerman due up.
Astros 0, Nationals 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsJun 18 7:26 PM - HOUSTON: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 18 7:08 PM
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