Nationals 8, Astros 4
Adam Kennedy singled in the go-ahead run and Ivan Rodriguez homered during a seven-run eighth inning that lifted the Washington Nationals past the Houston Astros 8-4 on Tuesday.
Justin Maxwell also doubled in a run for the Nationals, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Houston grabbed the lead in the first inning, courtesy of an RBI single by Jeff Keppinger and a two-run homer by Jason Michaels.
The Astros led 3-0 until the seventh, when J.A. Happ left the game and the Nationals finally got on the board with Maxwell’s RBI double off Mark Melancon. They added four more in the eighth, starting when Tim Byrdak walked Adam Dunn and Felipe Paulino came on and allowed a two-run homer to Rodriguez to tie it at 3-3.
Roger Bernadina followed the blast with a single off Paulino (1-9) and stole second before Maxwell walked. Kennedy came up next and drove a single to right, plating Bernadina. Maxwell came in one batter later when Paulino unleashed a wild pitch.
Ian Desmond, Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman added RBI singles off Matt Lindstrom to complete to rally.
The bullpen breakdown wasted an outstanding effort from Happ, who took a no-hitter into the fifth and finishing with just three hits allowed in six scoreless frames. The left-hander struck out six and walked three.
Washington’s John Lannan also turned in a solid start, allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings.
Tyler Clippard (10-6) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief.