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Kearns, Nationals edge Brewers

Jul 8, 2007 - 3:55 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Austin Kearns helped the Washington Nationals overcome two home runs by Prince Fielder.

Kearns hit a two-run double to cap a four-run fifth inning and Jason Simontacchi pitched six effective innings to lift the Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Ryan Church came up with a three-hit performance for the first time in more than a month as Washington avoided a three-game losing streak.

Kearns sent a 1-1 offering from Brewers starter Jeff Suppan (8-8) into center field for a double, which plated Dmitri Young and Church to give the Nationals a 4-2 lead. The two-base hit - Kearns' first in 15 games - followed back-to-back RBI singles by Young and Church.

"It's easy to press," Kearns said. "I have. Everyone does. You just try to limit it, relax as much as possible instead of forcing it."

Simontacchi (6-6) yielded three runs and eight hits with a walk and five strikouts.

After surrendering consecutive home runs by Ryan Braun and Fielder in the first, the 33-year-old Simontacchi settled down, holding the Brewers scoreless until Fielder led off the sixth with another blast that cut the deficit to 4-3.

The three home runs allowed by Simontacchi were a career high.

"My neck was sore," Simontacchi said. "(If) you put the ball over the plate, especially against that team, they're going to do some damage."

With two on and two out in the sixth, pinch hitter Tony Graffanino hit a long drive to center on which Ryan Langerhans made a diving catch, saving two runs and ending the inning.

"It was a great catch," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "We played a great ballgame, but we just didn't win. We had chances to get a big hit. They battled back and they battled back. We played a great game and we lost."

Saul Rivera and Jon Rauch each tossed a scoreless inning before closer Chad Cordero notched his 15th save of the season despite giving up a solo homer by Johnny Estrada.

Fielder, who entered the game homerless in his previous nine games, had his first multi-homer game since May 21 and now leads the National League with 29.

"We always feel like we have a chance," Fielder said. "We do hit a lot of home runs. It's not what we try to do. It's just the way it happens, which is good. Regardless of the home runs, we always feel like we have a chance."

Suppan suffered his first loss since June 12, allowing four runs, six hits and five walks with three strikeouts in five innings.

Felipe Lopez hit an RBI double in the seventh inning, accounting for Washington's final run.

Damian Miller collected four hits for the second time in six games for Milwaukee.