Nationals 7, Brewers 2
MILWAUKEE -- Bryce Harper drove in two runs and had three hits, Yunel Escobar and Wilson Ramos homered and Joe Ross secured his first major league victory as the Washington Nationals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 on Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.
Harper's two-out walk in the fourth inning allowed Washington to break the game open against Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who followed the walk by giving up a two-run homer to Ramos that made it 5-2.
Harper reached base five times but left the game after taking a pitch on the left knee in the ninth inning.
Nelson was not sharp and allowed seven runs, 10 hits and two walks while striking out three in five-plus innings.
Nelson fell behind 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI single by Harper, but the Milwaukee offense came through in the second, putting two on the board when shortstop Jean Segura beat out an an RBI single to score first baseman Adam Lind. Segura scored on an RBI double by second baseman Scooter Gennett, who had two hits in the game.
Escobar put Washington back out in front with a two-run homer in the third.
Milwaukee missed a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the inning when Segura was held up at third on Gennett's second double of the day. Nelson (3-7) struck out to end the inning and the Nationals took control in the fifth.
Ross (1-1) put forth his best effort of the season, going eight innings and getting eight strikeouts, including three against right fielder Ryan Braun and two against center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Ross gave up seven of Milwaukee's eight hits, but the Brewers were just 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven.
NOTES: Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg reported no issues after throwing 60 pitches during a live batting practice session Friday and could begin a rehab assignment sometime in the next week. Strasburg has been on the disabled list since May 30 because of neck tightness. ... RHP Doug Fister returned to Washington Saturday after throwing six shutout innings in a rehab start Friday at Double-A Harrisburg. He will throw a bullpen session in the coming days and should return to the team shortly thereafter. Fister has been out since May 15 because of tightness in his right forearm. ... Brewers CF Carlos Gomez was back atop the lineup card Saturday. He had missed Milwaukee's previous three games because of soreness in his right hip. ... After taking the first two games of the series with Washington, the Brewers were looking to clinch their third consecutive series victory. Milwaukee had won six of its last eight games and eight of the last 12.