Ramos and Rendon homer as Nats take series with 9-5 win

The Brewers didn't take long to jump on Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. Scooter Gennett started the game with a single and then Jonathan Lucroy unloaded on a hanging slider, smacking it over the wall in left-center for a two-run homer.

Ryan Braun followed with a shot off the wall in right, but Bryce Harper came up throwing, nailing Braun on a laser at second base.

The Nationals answered in the bottom of the first when Jayson Werth ripped a double to left. Anthony Rendon advanced Werth to third on a groundout to Gennett. After Brewers starter Matt Garza whiffed Harper, Ryan Zimmerman delivered a two-out double off the wall in center, plating Werth to put the Nats on the scoreboard.

Update: Garza ran into trouble in the third. After striking out Zimmermann and Werth to start the frame, Garza issued another walk to Rendon.

With the shift on, Harper bounced a double down the left field line. Another walk to Zimmerman loaded the bases for Ian Desmond, who hit a chopper that Garza fumbled, allowing Rendon to race home to tie the game.

Danny Espinosa then smacked a hanging curveball off the top of the wall in right-center field, clearing the bases with his 20th double.

Update II: Gennett crushed a 3-2 heater from Zimmermann over the right field wall to start the fifth.

Update III: Wilson Ramos pulverized Garza's fastball off the facade of the second deck in deep right-center for a solo homer in the fifth.

Update IV: Garza was replaced by right-hander Corey Knebel midway through the fifth. After walking Werth, Knebel surrendered a three-run homer to Rendon. The deep shot over the Brewers bullpen was Rendon's third homer of the year and second in the last two games.

Update V: Zimmermann left after giving up an RBI double to Elian Herera in the sixth. The right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Zimmermann threw 116 pitches.

Left-hander Felipe Rivero closed out the frame.

Update VI: Drew Storen surrendered a solo homer to Khris Davis in the eighth.

Jonathan Papelbon finished off the Brewers in the ninth.

The Nationals beat the Brewers 9-5.