WASHINGTON – Adam LaRoche's 10th inning fielder's choice scored Jayson Werth with the winning run, and the Washington Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Friday night
With one out, Werth grounded to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who threw wildly to first. Werth took second on the error. Werth stole third without a throw.
After the stolen base, the Brewers played a five-man infielder with left fielder Ryan Braun playing between first and second. LaRoche bounced to first against Zach Braddock (0-1) and Prince Fielder's throw home pulled catcher Jonathan Lucroy off the plate, and Werth scored the winning run.
Chad Gaudin (1-1), the Nationals' fifth pitcher, pitched a scoreless 10th.
Tom Gorzelanny allowed two runs and five hits, struck out four and walked two in his second start for Washington. In his previous appearance, he gave up five earned runs in 5 1-3 innings. Gorzelanny was the beneficiary when Milwaukee's Chris Narveson allowed three walks in a three-run second inning.
Rickie Weeks had three hits — including a two-run home run for the Brewers, who had won their previous four games.
The Nationals scored three runs against Narveson in the second. LaRoche led off with a walk. Singles to Wilson Ramos and Michael Morse loaded the bases, and with one out, Narveson walked Jerry Hairston and Gorzelanny to score LaRoche and Ramos. Morse scored on Danny Espinosa's sacrifice fly.
Espinosa was elevated to the leadoff spot and Ian Desmond took his place in the seventh spot in an effort to generate more offense. Washington manager Jim Riggleman said he hoped that Desmond, who is hitless in his last 14 at-bats, would feel less pressure batting seventh.
Weeks hit a long two-run home run to the back of the left field bullpen off Gorzelanny with two out in the fifth. It was his fourth homer of the season and made it 3-2.
Weeks doubled with two outs in the ninth inning off Sean Burnett, who blew his first save after converting his first three. He scored on Gomez's single to tie the score at 3.
Narveson, who hadn't allowed a run in his first 14 innings — the longest to begin a season by a Milwaukee left-handed starter — gave up four walks in his first two starts. He allowed four in 5 2-3 innings. Narveson gave up three runs and five hits and struck out five.
NOTES: Brewers RHP Zack Greinke threw 30 pitches in a simulated game. If he feels fine on Saturday, Milwaukee will send him on a rehab assignment. "It was pretty good all around," Greinke said. "It might not be the sharpest or the best, but I'll be ready. I feel like I can execute some stuff, just get the endurance and hopefully get ready." ... Greinke thinks he'll start at Class A Brevard County. ... Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said that OF Corey Hart, who's on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain, needs three or four more batting practices before he can be sent on a rehab assignment. ... Brewers OF Nyjer Morgan, who was traded from the Nationals last month, did not play. He's batting .476.
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