The Baltimore Orioles salvaged the final game of their three game "Battle of the Beltway" weekend series with the Washington Nationals, winning 7-4 on Sunday. With the loss, Washington's eight game winning streak was halted and the team fell back to two games under .500.
Orioles starter Chris Jakubaukas went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out six. Baltimore relievers Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara held the Washington lineup to just one run in their four innings of work, a ninth inning solo home run by Washington second baseman Danny Espinosa.
Tom Gorzelanny returned from the disable list to lackluster results. The Washington lefty threw just 4 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits and one walk.
J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds went yard for Baltimore, and Derrek Lee added two more hits against Nationals pitching. Lee, who torched Washington arms all weekend long, has petitioned Bud Selig and the MLB higher-ups to play Washington 81 times a year.
For Washington, Roger Bernadina was three for four at the plate with a home run. Michael Morse added a run scoring double, and Espinosa had two hits, including his ninth inning home run.
After an off day Monday, the Nationals will face the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night at Nats Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M.