Gennett and Davis connect off Strasburg again (Nats lose 4-2)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed a grand slam to Scooter Gennett and another home run to Khris Davis on June 25 in a 9-2 Brewers victory over the Nationals. Fast forward to July 18, Strasburg allowed early home runs to Gennett and Davis and the Brewers lead 2-0 over the Nationals after 1 1/2 innings. The Brewers can hit home runs. Six of their starting nine had nine or more home runs this season before first pitch. Now Gennett has eight. The Nationals got called for a peculiar out in the bottom of the first when Denard Span singled. Following a grounder by Anthony Rendon, Span was called out on interference at second base. The umpires originally called it a double play, but manager Matt Williams came out to argue. The delay took a few minutes as the umpires discussed the play. After they changed it to Rendon safe at first on a fielder's choice, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke asked for an explanation. The Nationals did not score in the inning. Update: In the third, Aramis Ramirez's bloop single into right field scored two runs and the Brewers suddenly lead 4-0. Update II: The Nationals finally cashed in on all those hits. Ian Desmond's single scored Ryan Zimmerman in the fourth and the Brewers' lead is down to 4-1. The official scorer called it a double even though Carlos Gomez bobbled the ball in center field. The Nationals have seven hits on the evening. Update III: In the seventh, the Brewers challenged a Jean Segura grounder to Zimmerman at third. First base umpire Vic Carapazza ruled Segura out on the throw to first base. The ruling on the field was overturned. Segura went back to first base. The video replay took approximately 1 minute, 25 seconds. Strasburg made it through seven innings and is done after 98 pitches. The right-hander struck out nine and walked one while allowing four runs on seven hits. He pitched four straight scoreless innings to end his outing after surrendering runs in each of the first three frames. Update IV: Drew Storen and Craig Stammen each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Strasburg. Bryce Harper led off the ninth with his third homer of the year. But the comeback ended there as the Nats fell 4-2 to the Brewers. Span and Harper each recorded three hits in the contest. But the only RBIs came from Harper and Desmond. As a result, Strasburg slips back to .500 at 7-7 and the Nats return from the break with a defeat to fall to 51-43, meaning they can end the night no better than still tied with the Braves for first in the National League East.