Nationals 7, Orioles 4
BALTIMORE -- Danny Espinosa hit a three-run homer as a part of a four-run sixth inning that helped the Washington Nationals to a 7-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.
Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez had retired 10 in a row and led 4-2 heading into the sixth. Right fielder Bryce Harper led off with a homer that cut the lead to one, and designated hitter Clint Robinson and catcher Wilson Ramos each followed with singles.
Espinosa then crushed an 0-1 pitch over the right-field scoreboard for his three-run homer that gave the Nationals (47-39) the lead for good at 6-4.
Center fielder Michael A. Taylor added his second RBI single of the night in the ninth for an insurance run.
The Washington homers gave the win to right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (8-5), his third straight victory despite struggling through five innings. Zimmermann, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl Friday morning, allowed two homers and four runs and nine hits but battled through.
Four relievers shut down the Orioles in the final four innings and closer Drew Storen finished it in the ninth for his 26th save.
The Orioles (44-43) used homers from catcher Caleb Joseph and right fielder Steve Pearce to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth, but Gonzalez (7-6) couldn't hold it, giving up six runs in five-plus innings.
Baltimore also wasted several good scoring chances, finishing 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Orioles now are 1-for-35 with runners in scoring position in the past five games.
The Nationals nearly took the lead in the first inning, but third baseman Yunel Escobar was thrown out at home trying to score on Robinson's double. Orioles second baseman Ryan Flaherty, after taking a good throw from Pearce in right, nailed Escobar with a perfect relay.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning with designated hitter Jimmy Paredes' RBI groundout.
That lead didn't last long as the Nationals answered with two runs against Gonzalez in the top of the second.
Washington loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a walk from catcher Wilson Ramos and singles from Espinosa and first baseman Tyler Moore.
Ramos scored the tying run when shortstop Ian Desmond grounded into a double play. Two batters later, Taylor sent an RBI single to center for a 2-1 lead.
The Orioles took the lead back on Joseph's two-run homer in the second and Pearce's solo shot in the fourth. The two homers gave the Orioles a 4-2 lead at the midway point.
NOTES: Orioles manager Buck Showalter said RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP Chris Tillman and RHP Miguel Gonzalez will be the starters for the three-game series in Detroit beginning Friday after the All-Star break. After an off-day, LHP Wei-Yin Chen will then pitch against the Yankees in New York. Showalter wouldn't commit to RHP Kevin Gausman being the fifth starter, saying the team has several options, but the right-hander would be working on his normal schedule if he pitches after Chen's. ... The Orioles scratched RF Chris Davis from the starting lineup about 45 minutes before game time because of gastroentiritis. Steve Pearce will take over in right field. Davis missed the first game of the season (the last game of his suspension) but has played in all the rest since. ... Nationals manager Matt Williams said before Saturday's game that RHP Max Scherzer will start the series finale Sunday and therefore won't pitch in the All-Star Game. Scherzer is going but just won't play. ... The Nationals reinstated RHP Jordan Zimmermann from the paternity list to pitch Saturday and optioned LHP Sammy Solis to Double-A Harrisburg.