Nationals 5 - 6 Brewers
Final
  for this game

Nationals start series in Brew City

Jun 11, 2015 - 2:13 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Nationals will resume their eight-game road trip Thursday with the first of four straight games against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

The NL East-leading Nationals, who are a half-game ahead of the New York Mets and two games clear of the Atlanta Braves, split a quick two-game set against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.

Washington lost the opener, 6-1, and rebounded with Wednesday's 5-4 win in 11 innings thanks to Denard Span's RBI single in the top of the 11th. Span had three hits and two RBI, while Michael Taylor and Danny Espinosa both homered. Espinosa finished with three hits on the day.

Blake Treinen got the win with two scoreless innings of relief and starter Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

"It's important for us to play to the last (out)," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Today we did."

The Nationals ended a three-game slide and won for only the third time in the previous 12 contests.

Tanner Roark will handle pitching duties for the Nats Thursday and is 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 16 games (3 starts). He recorded a victory over the Chicago Cubs last Friday and was reached for four runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 7-5 win.

Roark won his only start against the Brewers and hurled seven innings of one- run ball with five strikeouts and one walk.

The Brewers are back in Brew City and went 5-4 on their trip through St. Louis, Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

Milwaukee was aiming for a three-game sweep of the Pirates on Wednesday, but dropped a 2-0 decision at PNC Park. Kyle Lohse allowed both runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings for the loss and was outdueled by Charlie Morton, who pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings.

"I think he got better as the game went along," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of his starter. "He got through it, and he gave us a chance."

Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun left the game in the sixth inning with dizziness and is day-to-day.

Matt Garza draws the start for Milwaukee Thursday and is 4-7 with a 5.09 earned run average in 12 games (11 starts). Garza has won consecutive starts following an 0-4 skid in his previous five appearances and allowed only a run in seven innings of Saturday's 4-2 win at Minnesota.

Garza has struggled in his career against Washington, going 0-3 with a 7.33 ERA.

The Nationals won four of six meetings with the Brewers last season and the two clubs will meet again for three games at Nationals Park in late August.






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