Despite two homers from Ryan Zimmerman, Nats fall to Tigers 5-4

Nationals right-hander Joe Ross had never given up more than six hits in a start this season.

He also had not surrendered a home run in his first 32 1/3 innings.

That all changed Tuesday as the Tigers used a home run by Nick Castellanos and a big sixth inning to end a seven-game losing streak and upend the Nationals 5-4.

Ryan Zimmerman kept the Nationals close, with two homers and three RBIs. It was the 15th time in his career he had hit more than one homer in a game.

The Nationals jumped out first on Fullmer in the second inning. With one out, Daniel Murphy and Jayson Werth singled, while Wilson Ramos drew a walk to load the bases.

Danny Espinosa drove in Murphy with a single and the Nationals led 1-0.

After Victor Martinez singled to open the inning, Castellanos crushed his second homer of the series, a two-run shot, and the Tigers led 2-1.

It was the first homer allowed by Ross in six starts this season.

The Nationals answered in the fifth.

After a two-out walk to Bryce Harper, Zimmerman launched a two-run shot into the Tigers bullpen and the Nationals regained the lead 3-2. It had to be satisfying for Zimmerman to come through in a situation where Harper was walked in front of him after leaving 14 men on base at Chicago on Sunday.

The Tigers counter punched in the sixth with three runs.

Ross allowed a single to Victor Martinez, his third of the game. After Castellanos was walked, Justin Upton's fielder's choice put runners on the corners.

James McCann slapped a single to left and the Tigers tied the game at 3-3.

Andrew Romine followed one batter later with a fielder's choice RBI that scored Upton and the Tigers led 4-3.

Pinch-hitter Miguel Cabrera's bloop single to center lifted the Tigers to a 5-3 lead.

Victor Martinez went 4-for-5 in the game with four singles.

In the seventh, Zimmerman slammed a solo shot, his second homer of the game, to cut the Tigers' advantage to 5-4.

A Nationals rally attempt fell just short in the eighth.

With Ramos at first and two away, pinch-hitter Clint Robinson doubled to left-center. Ramos tried to score from first but was tagged out on his slide attempt at home, 8-6-2.

The Nationals had a chance to tie or win it again in the ninth.

With two men on and one out facing Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez, Zimmerman struck out on a changeup. Murphy then flew out to center to end the threat.