Ramos said 2011 video of his swing fueled Tuesday's game-winning hit

When a losing streak starts to pile up, one inevitable reoccurrence in almost every game is an inability to produce that clutch hit.

Mired in a four-game slump, the Nationals needed someone to step up a deliver a game-changing hit.

Enter catcher Wilson Ramos, who had already produced a walk and a base hit in three earlier at-bats in the game.

With men on second and third and one out in the bottom of the eighth and the score tied at 3-3, Ramos blooped a single over the first baseman Paul Goldschmidt's head into right field. Two runs scored, and the Nationals led 5-3.

They held on to beat the Diamondbacks 5-4.

It was the first multi-RBI game for Ramos since July 21 and his first multi-hit game since July 5.

"That was big because I helped the team to win this game," Ramos said. "It's important game for the team. We're fighting. We're racing in the National League East, so we have to keep playing like that. We never took our head down, we fight all game. We keep doing that, we'll have the opportunity to win a lot of games, that's what we need."

Right-hander Max Scherzer had left the game after six innings, allowing Arizona three runs on four hits. Ramos called the game to help Scherzer frame nine strikeouts.

Scherzer said he knows how hard Ramos works on calling pitches for him and playing defense. Seeing him deliver offensively was big.

"That was huge," Scherzer said. "It seemed like we needed something like that. Felt like we hit some balls really hard. They made great plays to be able chase them down. But I felt like we really did some good things at the plate. So finally to get Willie up there to be able to get one in there and score those two runs were obviously huge to help win this ballgame. So for Willie to be able to do that the way he's been grinding behind the plate, it was hot tonight, so for him to be able to come up with the big (hit) for us is huge."

Prior to Tuesday's breakthrough, Ramos had struggled to .091 (4-for-44) in his previous 12 games, dating back to July 12.

Ramos said he worked hard in batting practice Tuesday and went back to old game film of his swing and found out what he was doing differently when he was clicking at the plate.

"I was watching my videos from 2011 season and it helped me," Ramos said. "That helped me a little bit (with) my standing position. I did it today and now feel more comfortable at the plate. I will stay like that for the rest of the season because I feel comfortable right now.

"I think it was a mechanic (issue with my swing), mentally, and that was hard. We tried to do a lot of things to try to do better things. It happened. I want to say thanks God and thanks my family for giving me support. And they say after bad things, good things coming."

Manager Matt Williams said the key for Ramos is to square up each at-bat. When Ramos is going well, the ball is headed to center field.

"I think that the ball that's in the middle of the diamond," Williams said. "Something that he can hit to the middle of the diamond is important for him. He can get in a hitter's count and get the head out, too, he did that tonight with (Josh) Collmenter. His success comes when he hits the ball back through the middle.

"That's why he's been a very productive player from the catcher's position in the league. That's his key. That takes discipline and that takes getting a good pitch to hit and the right pitch to hit for him to do what he does."

Tuesday, he had quality at-bats. First time up he walked in his first at-bat. He then singled in the third inning. Following a groundout to lead off the sixth, Ramos delivered the biggest hit of the game for the Nationals, the two-run single in the eighth to give them the lead again. Ironically, the big base knock was actually a ball he dropped in over the right side of the infield past the Diamondback defenders.

He stood on second base after two runs scored and clapped his hands, pointing to the dug out. He then gave his patented "horns up" signal to his batting helmet. The Nationals dugout erupted in emotion.

"This opportunity I did it and that made me feel excited," Ramos said. "I have to enjoy it because those moments don't happen too often. Starting to give more energy to my team. Everything I try to do is for my team, try to help my team to win games."

And tonight, this Buffalo will roam well and sleep comfortably.

"It made me feel excited because I want to get my comfort back," Ramos said of his critical at-bat. "That's a good day for me and now (I can) go back to sleep and have a good dream."