Nationals erase bad memory with quick strike against Norris (Nats win 6-2)

One way to quickly forget a long rain delay that lead to a postponement and to forget an 8-2 11-inning loss is striking early in the first game back against the same opponent.

The Nationals jumped on Orioles starter Bud Norris in the top of the first. After a groundout, Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth hit successive doubles to make it 1-0 Nationals. Adam LaRoche followed with a solid single to right and Werth slid under the Caleb Joseph tag at home to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

Update: In an unusual first inning, Nationals starter Doug Fister walked a pair of Orioles. Chris Davis then lined a run-scoring single into right field and the Nationals lead was 2-1. It was the first time Fister had walked two batters in a game since June 15, a span of four starts.

It also was the first twime Fister had two walks in the same inning dating to Sept. 14, 2013 in the top of the eighth of a 1-0 Tigers loss to the Royals.

In the top of the second, Wilson Ramos turned on a Norris offering and deposited it in the left field stands, his third homer of the season. The Nationals led 3-1.

Update II: The wiffle ball tournament continued in the fourth. Ian Desmond smacked his 16th homer of the season, a solo shot over the right-center field wall to give the Nationals a 4-1 lead. The Orioles quickly answered back with a Manny Machado solo homer, his ninth, and the Nationals' advantage was cut to 4-2.

Update III: The Nationals chased Norris in the fifth. They began the inning with a walk and a single. After a Werth walk, LaRoche delivered a sac fly to deep center field that scored Denard Span and the Nationals led 5-2. LaRoche has two RBIs on the night.

Update IV: Werth slammed the third homer of the night for the Nationals, over the left field wall, his ninth of season and the lead upped to 6-2 in the seventh.

Update V: Fister went seven innings and threw 113 pitches, 73 for strikes. He allowed two runs on seven hits, walked two (both in the first inning) and struck out two.

Update VI: The Nationals dropped the Orioles 6-2 to improve to 6-2 in their last 8 games on the road against first-place teams.