Ross, Nats dominant in 7-2 win (Harper injured)

The Nationals triggered their struggling offense early today. Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar each knocked a one-out base hit in the first. Bryce Harper then delivered his 50th RBI of the season on a line drive single to left field, which scored Rendon. But the Nats left two on as Wilson Ramos struck out and Danny Espinosa grounded out to end the inning.

Nationals rookie starter Joe Ross retired the Brewers in order in the bottom of the first before running into trouble in the second. First baseman Adam Lind singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Lind scored when shortstop Jean Segura narrowly beat out a slow grounder to Escobar.

Second baseman Scooter Gennett followed with a double scoring Segura to give the Brewers the lead.

The top of the Nationals lineup responded again in the third. Rendon drew a one-out walk and then Escobar smashed a 92 mph fastball from Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson over the center field wall for a two-run homer. The blast was Escobar's third home run on the season.

Update: The Nationals put together a big two-out rally in the fifth started by Harper's major league-leading 52nd walk. Ramos followed with an opposite field homer over the right field fence at Miller Park. The two-run shot was Ramos' fifth home run on the season.

Espinosa then just missed a homer to center field, but the rope off the wall still went for a double. After Nelson hit Ian Desmond, Michael A. Taylor nailed a single up the middle plating Espinosa.

Ross has allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Update II: Denard Span picked up his first hit of the day to start the sixth. A couple batters later, Harper smoked a single to right scoring Span. Harper is 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

Ross has pitched four straight scoreless innings. The rookie has thrown 80 pitches through six frames.

Update III: Ross joined Max Scherzer (twice) and Jordan Zimmermann as the only Nationals starters to pitch eight complete innings this year. With two outs in his last frame, Ross walked Lind. Before that moment, Ross set a new Nationals record (2005-present) for facing 51 batters prior to issuing his first walk of his major league career.

Ross allowed two runs on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in eight innings. He threw 108 pitches.

Harper was forced to leave the game in the top of the ninth after being hit in the left knee by Brewers right-hander Michael Blazek on the third pitch of his fourth at-bat.

Right-hander Casey Janssen closed out the Brewers in the ninth.

The Nationals beat the Brewers 7-2.