Orioles 4, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON -- Ubaldo Jimenez earned his 100th career victory as he gave up one unearned run in six innings, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Washington Nationals 4-1 Tuesday.
The contest opened a three-game interleague series between teams trying to stave off elimination. The scheduled series opener was rained out Monday.
The Orioles (74-76) prevailed behind two runs in the second inning and two more in the fifth. They began the day six games back of the Houston Astros for the second American League wild card.
Washington (78-72) won seven of its previous eight games. The Nationals started the night 6 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East.
Jimenez (12-9) gave up three hits and five walks with five strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 4.16. He doubled his win total from a 6-9 season in 2014.
Brad Brach pitched two scoreless innings for Baltimore, and Darren O'Day finished up in the ninth for his fourth save of the year and just the 12th of his career in 454 appearances. He struck out second baseman Anthony Rendon for the final out.
Washington center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who had two hits, reached on a two-base error by right fielder Steve Pearce to start the ninth. However, O'Day got the final three outs as the Orioles held Washington to just three singles -- two of which stayed in the infield. None of the top five hitters in the Washington batting order had a hit.
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez (11-8) fell to 1-5 in his career against Baltimore. He allowed four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the second on hard-hit RBI singles by Jimenez and leadoff hitter Nolan Reimold, the left fielder. It was the second hit of the season in six at-bats for Jimenez, who entered this season with a lifetime batting average of .113 in 274 at-bats.
Washington pulled to within 2-1 in the fourth as first baseman Clint Robinson scored on a fielder's choice grounder by catcher Jose Lobaton. Robinson led off by reaching on a two-base error by Junior Lake, who was making his first start in center for the Orioles.
After the unearned run, the Orioles escaped further damage as Gonzalez bunted into a double play. Gonzalez was originally ruled safe at first, but Baltimore challenged the call, and the ruling was overturned.
First baseman Chris Davis and left fielder Steve Pearce had back-to-back RBI doubles to left to give the Orioles a 4-1 lead in the fifth. Third baseman Manny Machado just beat a relay with a head-first slide into home for the first run of the frame.
NOTES: Orioles 3B Manny Machado collected his 500th career hit with a fifth-inning single. ... Washington OF Bryce Harper drew his 117th walk of the year in the fifth. That broke Adam Dunn's franchise record, set in 2009, for walks in a season. ...Orioles OF Adam Jones was out of the starting lineup because of back spasms. "He's better. That is encouraging," said manager Buck Showalter, who did not commit to Jones starting on Wednesday. ... Washington INF Danny Espinosa had an MRI on Tuesday that showed a right hamstring tear. "We have to be cautious," said manager Matt Williams. ... Orioles RHP Chris Tillman (9-11, 5.19 ERA) will face Washington RHP Max Scherzer (12-11, 2.90 ERA) on Wednesday.