Harper, Espinosa homer in Nats' 7-4 win

BALTIMORE - The Nationals had an early chance to score tonight. Yunel Escobar slapped a single to right in the first. After Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez got Bryce Harper swinging, Clint Robinson ripped a two-out double into the right field corner.

Escobar, who is battling tightness in his left hamstring, motored around from first as third base coach Bob Hendley signaled for the plate. Orioles right fielder Steve Pearce fired to second baseman Ryan Flaherty who relayed to catcher Caleb Joseph to nail Escobar at the plate to end the inning.

The Orioles opened the game swinging aggressively against Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. Manny Machado led off with a single to left and Chris Parmalee followed with a double to right-center field giving Baltimore runners at second and third with no outs.

But Zimmermann was able to limit the Orioles to only one run on a groundout from Jimmy Paredes.

The Nats responded in the second. A leadoff walk for Wilson Ramos followed by consecutive singles from Danny Espinosa and Tyler Moore loaded the bases with no outs. Ian Desmond ended up hitting into a double play, but Ramos was able to race home safely to tie the game.

After Matt den Dekker drew a walk, Michael A. Taylor delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to center to give the Nats the early lead.

Update: The Orioles answered in the bottom of the frame when Joseph launched a two-out, two-run homer off Zimmermann.

Update II: Pearce belted a solo home run off Zimmermann to start the fourth.

Update III: Harper led off the sixth with a solo homer off Gonzalez to cut the Orioles' lead in half. It was Harper's 26th home run of the season and the first of his career at Camden Yards.

Robinson and Ramos followed with back-to-back singles bringing Espinosa to the plate. Gonzalez offered an 0-1 changeup and Espinosa drilled it over the out-of-town scoreboard in right for a three-run homer. Espinosa leads all National League second baseman with 10 homers.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter ended Gonzalez's night after Espinosa's blast. Right-hander Chaz Roe came on and gave up den Dekker's first career triple before getting Taylor to ground out to end the inning without further damage.

Zimmermann only made it through five innings tonight. He allowed four runs on nine hits, including two homers, with four strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches.

Right-hander Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless sixth for the Nats.

Update IV: Treinen, Felipe Rivero, Casey Janssen and Drew Storen combined to pitch four scoreless innings in relief. Storen notched his 26th save in the ninth.

The Nationals beat the Orioles 7-4.