CHICAGO (AP) Mat Latos had all sorts of adjectives to describe his latest shaky start for the struggling Chicago White Sox. Few were suitable for print.
Latos had another rough outing, and the White Sox lost for the 19th time in 25 games, falling 10-5 to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
While the NL East-leading Nationals won for the sixth time in eight games, the White Sox continued their stunning decline. A team that got off to a 23-10 start and spent 47 days in first place in the AL Central is now in fourth place at 29-29, with Detroit beating Toronto.
Latos (6-2) got knocked out in a two-run fifth inning that saw the Nationals go ahead after the White Sox grabbed an early 5-2 lead. And he made it clear just how unhappy he was afterward.
''The team gives you lead like they did today and you flat out blow it, ''Latos said. ''It's absolutely pathetic.''
The right-hander gave up six runs, five hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings. After winning his first four starts, his ERA has climbed from 0.74 to 4.62, and manager Robin Ventura sidestepped questions about his future in the rotation.
''Maty's got to do better,'' he said. ''He knows that. You can't go out there and just give them those free passes.''
Bryce Harper drove in three runs, and Anthony Rendon homered for Washington.
Harper saw some pitches to hit after the Cubs walked him 13 times while sweeping four games at Wrigley Field last month. The 2015 NL MVP came through with a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in a four-run sixth.
''I wasn't even really thinking about that to tell you the truth,'' Harper said. ''I was just trying to go out there and have some good at-bats.''
Rendon hit a two-run homer off Latos. Michael Taylor added a two-run double and robbed Dioner Navarro with a diving catch in center field.
Reliever Blake Treinen (4-1) pitched two-hit ball over three scoreless innings after a shaky start by Joe Ross. And the Nationals won a game that lasted 3 hours, 55 minutes and featured a combined 14 walks and two hit batters.
Todd Frazier hit his 19th homer for Chicago. Jose Abreu had two hits and drove in two runs. Adam Eaton scored twice, but the White Sox continued their freefall.
Frazier's two-run homer on a line drive to center in the second gave Chicago a 5-2 lead. But after rallying from five down in Sunday's win at Cincinnati, the Nationals came back again.
Rendon's two-run drive in the fourth cut the lead to one. Harper, who tied a major league record with six walks in a game against the Cubs last month, gave Washington a 6-5 lead with one out in the fifth when he greeted reliever Dan Jennings with a two-run double to center.
The Nationals added four more in the sixth on a two-run double by Taylor off Matt Albers, Harper's sacrifice fly against Zach Duke and Wilson Ramos' bases-loaded walk.
Ross lasted just four innings, allowing five runs and four hits. He walked four and threw 91 pitches - 39 in a two-run first.
GOING LONG
Treinen threw 66 pitches in his longest outing since he went four innings in an 8-3 loss at San Diego on May 14, 2015.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: With 1B Ryan Zimmerman returning from the paternity list, prospect Trea Turner was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. ''It's hard to impress me in three days,'' manager Dusty Baker said. ''But we know this kid can play. I said, `Go down there and hit .330.''' . Baker said they'll have a ''tough decision'' when the rehab assignment for RHP Matt Belisle (calf) expires later this month.
White Sox: The White Sox are skipping Carlos Rodon's next start because of discomfort in his neck and arm. Rodon was scheduled to pitch Thursday against the Nationals. Miguel Gonzalez will take his place. General manager Rick Hahn says an MRI showed no structural damage for Rodon. ... Ventura said reliever Zach Putnam was unavailable due to elbow soreness.
UP NEXT
RHP James Shields makes his White Sox debut after being acquired from San Diego, while RHP Max Scherzer (6-4, 3.87 ERA) starts for Washington. Shields was 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts for the Padres.
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