Nats blow four-run lead in 6-5 loss

After helping the Nationals end a three-game slide with the game-winning RBI yesterday, Denard Span wasted no time getting his ballclub started tonight. The Nats center fielder roped a double off the right field wall to lead off the game. Brewers starter Matt Garza was able to retire Anthony Rendon and Yunel Escobar before facing Bryce Harper with two outs.

Garza's 3-1 fastball ran in on Harper's bat creating a knuckling soft liner up the middle. The spin on the ball fooled Brewers shortstop Jean Segura, who let it bounce and then rushed a throw that hopped past first baseman Adam Lind. The error allowed Span to score the game's first run.

The Brewers answered in the bottom of the frame when center fielder Gerardo Parra singled and then scored on a triple from right fielder Ryan Braun.

The Nats regained the lead in the second on a moonshot to right off the bat of Clint Robinson. The solo homer was the first of the 30-year-old Robinson's major league career.

Update: Back-to-back singles from Robinson and Michael A. Taylor in the fourth led to Span's two-out RBI base hit up the middle. Parra made an ill-advised throw to the plate that sailed all the way to the backstop, allowing both Taylor and Span to move into scoring position on the error.

Garza appeared to get out of the jam when Rendon followed with a routine grounder, but third baseman Aramis Ramirez got too cute with the throw, skipping it past Lind. Taylor and Span crossed the plate for the second and third Nationals runs scored off Brewers errors.

The Brewers cut the Nats four-run lead in half in the bottom of the inning. A single by Braun and a double by Lind led to both scoring on groundouts from Ramirez and left fielder Shane Peterson.

Nats starter Tanner Roark has allowed three runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Update II: Lind's single drove in Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy to make it a one-run game in the fifth.

Update III: Parra crushed a changeup off Roark for a game-tying solo homer in the seventh. It was the ninth home run that Roark has allowed in 16 appearances this season.

Nationals manager Matt Williams called for left-hander Felipe Rivero with two outs in the seventh.

Roark allowed five runs on nine hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings

Update IV: Right-hander Aaron Barrett got Ramirez swinging to start the first, but the wicked slider bounced away from Wilson Ramos and Ramirez reached first safely. Peterson followed with a grounder that Danny Espinosa flipped to Rendon for the force at second. But Rendon's throw to Robinson was wild and Peterson advanced to second.

Two batters later, second baseman Scooter Jennett flicked a two-out single down the third base line, scoring Peterson to give the Brewers the lead.

Barrett was forced to leave the game shortly after with an undisclosed injury. Right-hander Casey Janssen came on to finish the inning.

Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez allowed a pinch-hit single to Ian Desmond before closing out the Nats in the ninth.

The Brewers beat the Nationals 6-5.