The scoreless streak is over (Nats lose 4-1)

Let's look on the positive side of things. Anthony Rendon's solo home run in the seventh, the second homer of his big league career, has brought the Nationals to within three at 4-1 and prevented them from getting shut out for the second straight day. Their scoreless streak has been snapped at 15 innings, and they'll turn the lineup over and get their big bats to the plate at least once more before this game ends. However, the Nats do still trail, and they'll either get Kyle Lohse for the eighth or a member of a Brewers bullpen that has the second-lowest collective ERA in the majors. The Nats have just four hits through seven innings, and Rendon's was the first for extra bases. They pounded out the extra-base hits and the runs a few days ago in 13-2 and 10-5 wins, but the bats have gone quiet the last two days against the Brewers. Craig Stammen will try and keep it a three-run game in the top of the eighth, and the Nats will try and avoid back-to-back losses to Milwaukee. Update: That'll do it. The Nats went down in order in the eighth and were unable to score in the ninth despite bringing the potential game-tying run to the plate, wrapping up a 4-1 loss to the Brewers. They managed just five hits off Lohse and Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez, and have now scored just one run in their last 18 innings. They've dropped two straight to a last-place club. This is the 23rd time this season the Nats have scored one run or fewer. Back to .500 at 42-42, and if Atlanta pulls out a win over the Marlins, the Nats will drop to eight games behind the Braves in the National League East.