Brewers 8, Nationals 4
MILWAUKEE -- Aramis Ramirez doubled three times and drove in five runs and Mike Fiers struck out eight as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 8-4 on Friday night at Miller Park.
Fiers (3-6) scattered five hits and three walks in seven innings, including solo home runs by Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper and first baseman Tyler Moore.
But they proved to be non-factors as the Milwaukee offense sprang to life behind Ramirez and pounded out 16 hits. Outfielder Gerardo Parra and first baseman Adam Lind also finished with three hits and right fielder Ryan Braun and Scooter Gennett each added two.
The Brewers won for the sixth time in the last eight games.
Washington right-hander and Wisconsin native Jordan Zimmermann came into the game with a 2-0 record and 1.50 ERA in five career starts at Miller Park, but his homecoming was anything but sweet. He was tagged for six earned runs, nine hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings.
Ramirez's first double of the day put Zimmermann in a 2-0 hole in the first inning.
Harper got one of those runs back with a homer in the second, then drove in another with an RBI single in the fourth. But Milwaukee responded with four in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single by catcher Jonathan Lucroy and Ramirez's third double of the day.
NOTES: Washington placed RHP Aaron Barrett on the 15-day disabled list with a right biceps strain. The injury happened during the eighth inning on Thursday, forcing Barrett to leave the game in the middle of an at-bat by pinch-hitter Hernan Perez. ... RHP David Carpenter, acquired Thursday in a trade with the Yankees, was activated and added to the Nationals' bullpen to replace Barrett. ... Brewers CF Carlos Gomez was held out of the starting lineup for a third third consecutive game with a sore right leg, but manager Craig Counsell said Gomez would be available to pinch-hit, if needed, and was optimistic he'd return to full action on Saturday. ... Washington's Jordan Zimmermann was making his fourth career start at Miller Park. Zimmermann is a Wisconsin native from Aurburndale, Wis., and attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he led the Pointers to the 2007 NCAA Division III national championship.