Nats set themselves up well for Mets with 7-4 win over Brewers

An offensive adjustment by manager Dusty Baker paved the way to three homers as the Nationals finally dropped the Brewers 7-4, preventing the sweep Wednesday on a getaway day at Nats Park.

Baker's lineup had the hot-hitting Daniel Murphy chiseled into the three spot. Bryce Harper was moved from the three spot to the cleanup role and instantly delivered. With two men on in the first, he crushed a Matt Garza offering to lift the Nationals to an early 3-0 lead. It was his team lead-tying 18th homer of the season.

It made Baker's move prescient.

The Nationals came into the game with only two runs to show for the first two games of the series. Baker decided to shake up the top of the lineup.

"I don't know. I had that feeling last night and I've been having it for a while," Baker said. "I'm hoping that ignites us. I don't know how long that's going to be, but we'll take it today."

Baker took us inside his strategy session Tuesday night as he contemplated the lineup. He wanted to start Jose Lobaton to give Wilson Ramos a day off. So if Ramos wasn't there and he was moving his Harper protection (Murphy) in front of his slugger, who bats behind Harper?

"Well, the decision was that I thought Murph was swinging better," Baker said. "Right now, he wasn't hot today, but he's been one of the hottest hitters around. And Ramos was in there, and then I would've had Ramos behind Harp because you're always wondering on who's going to hit behind Harp. But today it was (Anthony) Rendon because I know Rendon is going to put the ball in play, he can run, he stays out of double player."

Later, in another trend-shaking moment, Ryan Zimmerman broke out of his recent doldrums with an impressive two-run homer over the center field wall. Zimmerman had arrived to the game hitting just .115 the past week.

"That was big," Baker said. "He needed it, and we needed it. He gave us those insurance runs because you see how quickly they can score."

So how has Zimmerman fought through these last few weeks at the plate?

"I think the work I do every day, go out there and play is the only way to do it," Zimmerman said. "You've got to play through it. Felt all right at the plate the last week or two, haven't got much to show for it but gotta keep going."

On the pitching side, Tanner Roark lasted seven innings. He also survived one bad inning: a four-run, five-hit third frame. The Brewers were unable to do anything before or after that.

Roark was able to settle down after that rough third and help the Nats bullpen get much needed rest before the big series in New York starting Thursday night. Baker said Roark's late game control was key to surviving for 99 pitches.

"The biggest factor was he only walked one or two after that (third inning)," Baker said. "No. 1, you have to make them put the ball in play. You make quality pitches and use your defense. Tanner, he's been studing all year long. He usually goes six or seven innings, which is what we need, and he's been a big factor in our success."

Sammy Solis and Shawn Kelley pitched through the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon looked strong for his 17th save in the ninth. The bullpen looks rested for the four-game set at Citi Field against the defending division champs.

How big is this series? Baker says pretty big.

"It's critical because they're chasing us and we're trying to put some distance on them," Baker said. "It's very important because there's four less games on the schedule, whatever happens. Four less games that we have to play them head-to-head.

"You don't have to depend on anybody else you can just depend on yourself and how you do. And so this is very important how we do this series, and hopefully we can come out of there and gain some ground."