Lucroy leads Brewers past Nats
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Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura had an RBI apiece during a go-ahead seventh inning, as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Washington Nationals, 6-2, on Sunday.
Lucroy added a run-scoring single in the fourth and Ryan Braun had a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Brewers, who have won seven of eight and sit 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL's final wild card spot.
St. Louis defeated the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
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Yovani Gallardo gave up two runs on six hits over a five-inning start and Brandon Kintzler (3-0) earned the win with a scoreless sixth.
"He's our guy that we go to when we need to stop something going on and he usually pitches a great game," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said about Gallardo.
Chad Tracy and Jayson Werth both had a fifth-inning RBI for the Nationals, who have already clinched a playoff berth and have a magic number of six to wrap up the NL East.
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Chien-Ming Wang got the start for Washington and allowed two runs on eight hits over four innings while Ryan Mattheus (5-3) gave up three runs in the seventh to take the loss.
"I thought (Wang) threw the ball well. I didn't want to go too many pitches with him, but I was pleased with the way he threw," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said.
A leadoff single by Rickie Weeks, a double by Aramis Ramirez and an intentional walk to Corey Hart loaded the bases in the seventh.
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Lucroy then followed with an infield single to make it 3-2 and Carlos Gomez followed with a fly ball to right, which Werth lost in the sun, allowing Ramirez to score.
Segura's RBI groundout capped the three-run frame.
Jonathan Axford stranded a pair in the ninth to notch his 33rd save of the season.
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Braun doubled to start the fourth and moved to third base on Hart's one- out single before Lucroy brought him home with a base hit to right.
Logan Schafer's subsequent double plated Lucroy for a 2-0 lead.
The Nationals tied it in the fifth on Tracy's RBI single and Werth's sacrifice fly.
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Game Notes
Gallardo hasn't lost since July 27. He is 3-2 in eight games -- seven starts -- against the Nationals in his career ... Wang made his ninth appearance -- fifth start -- of the season ... Washington leads the season-series, 4-3.