Nationals 8, Orioles 4
Roger Bernadina homered for the second straight game as the Washington Nationals defeated the visiting Baltimore Orioles 8-4 Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.
Bernadina launched a Mike Gonzalez offering over the right-center field wall in the eighth inning for his third homer of the campaign. The light-hitting center fielder, who actually hit behind the pitcher in the Nationals' batting order, has driven in runs in a career-high four straight games.
He and Ian Desmond finished with two RBIs apiece to make a winner out of reliever Sean Burnett (3-3), who recorded a pair of outs for his second victory in three nights.
Washington took control of this one with a three-run sixth inning. Jerry Hairston Jr. broke a 4-4 tie with a run-scoring double, Jayson Werth padded the lead with an RBI single and Desmond capped the outburst with a sacrifice fly.
Jeremy Accardo (3-3) absorbed the loss, charged with all three runs in the pivotal sixth frame.
Derrek Lee went 5-for-5 while Nick Markakis and Adam Jones added four hits apiece to lead the Orioles, who pounded out 18 hits on the night but left 12 men on base.
Baltimore starter Zach Britton, whose start was pushed back three days in order for the Orioles to manage his workload, allowed four runs - one earned - on five hits in five innings.
Washington counterpart Jason Marquis was touched for four runs on 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings.