Nationals 3, Yankees 2
WASHINGTON -- Denard Span had two hits, including the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh, as the Washington Nationals captured their fifth straight game with a 3-2 win Wednesday over the New York Yankees despite the ejection of slugger Bryce Harper and manager Matt Williams.
Span, the center fielder, had a single to left with the bases loaded in the seventh to score catcher Wilson Ramos to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead. The run was unearned as Ramos reached on an error by third baseman Chase Headley to lead off the frame.
Jordan Zimmermann (4-2), the Nationals starter and winner, went seven innings and allowed five hits and two runs with six strikeouts and one walk. His command was superb, as 60 of his 88 pitches found the strike zone.
Matt Grace pitched a scoreless eighth for the Nationals and closer Drew Storen set down the Yankees in the ninth for his 12th save. Storen fanned pinch-hitter Alex Rodriguez for the final out with a runner on first.
The hard-luck loser was New York starter Adam Warren (2-3), who gave up just four hits and three runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 innings. Reliever Justin Wilson gave up the winning hit to Span but then retired the next two batters to escape further damage.
With the win the Nationals (24-17) swept the two-game series and won for the 17th time in 21 games as the hottest team in baseball this month. The Yankees fell to 22-19 and lost for the eighth time in 12 contests.
The Yankees appeared to get the go-ahead run on base in the seventh. But the call on the field was overturned and shortstop Didi Gregorius (two hits) was ruled out a bang-bang play at first for the second out.
Slade Heathcott of the Yankees pinch-ran in the eighth for his Major League debut after a two-out walk to Mark Teixeira, the first baseman. Heathcott was left stranded as Headley hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning against Grace.
The Yankees jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Right fielder Carlos Beltran had an RBI double to score left fielder Brett Gardner, who led off the game with a single. Beltran then scored on a sacrifice fly by Yankees catcher Brian McCann.
For the second night in a row, Washington shortstop Ian Desmond hit a solo homer in the first inning, trimming the margin to 2-1. Tyler Moore, in a rare start in left field, homered in the fourth to tie the score at 2.
Harper was ejected in the bottom of the third by home plate umpire Marvin Hudson after the right fielder took exception to a called strike on the first pitch from starter Adam Warren. Williams came out of the dugout and was also tossed.
Michael A. Taylor inherited an 0-1 count after replacing Harper and was called out looking by Hudson on strike three for the final out of the third. That was the third of four straight Washington batters who took a called third strike.
Harper was also ejected for arguing a strike call in Arizona on May 13 and was replaced by Taylor, who hit a grand slam homer in the ninth inning in a comeback victory.
Taylor took over in right for Harper in the top of the fourth against the Yankees.
New York also challenged a call on the field in the bottom of the fifth. After the review, Span was ruled out at first on a tag by Mark Teixeira after he didn't get back in time when a pitch bounced away from McCann.
NOTES: Bench coach Randy Knorr took over managerial duties for the Nationals after Matt Williams was ejected in the third inning. ... The Yankees begin a series at home Friday with Texas. Rangers RHP Colby Lewis (3-2, 2.06 ERA) will get the start against Yankees RHP Michael Pineda (5-1, 3.31). ... Washington will begin a series at home Friday. Nationals RHP Max Scherzer (4-3, 1.75) will face Philadelphia Phillies RHP Sean O'Sullivan (1-2, 3.68). ... Yankees OF Slade Heathcott was called up to replace OF Jacoby Ellsbury, who was put on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee injury. "He's as good as it gets" at leadoff, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Ellsbury, noting his .412 on-base average. Heathcott, batting .285 at Triple-A, said he got the good news in a call around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday from Triple-A manager Dave Miley that he was going to the majors for the first time. ... Washington OF Bryce Harper entered Wednesday with 10 homers in his last 12 games. He was the major league leader in runs (37), RBIs (38), walks (37), on-base percentage (.474), slugging (.737) and OPS (1.212) through Tuesday.