Santana homers as Brewers beat struggling Nationals 10-3

The Nationals dropped to 4 1/2 games behind the Mets in the National League East race.

Gio Gonzalez certainly seems to prefer the mound at Nationals Park, and he’ll look to bounce back from one of the worst starts of his career when he faces the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. Not only have the Nationals shown themselves to be a better team at home, but none of their opponents over the next 10 days will come in with a winning record. Jayson Werth misplayed a double by Lucroy and Lobaton had a passed ball that led to two runs in the third inning.

“It was a real nice at bat”, said manager Craig Counsell.

“I don’t think it [affected me]”, Gonzalez said. Gio Gonzalez took a line drive off the left leg in the fifth inning and then turned a one-run deficit into a four-run hole. “None of us like losing”.

It’s game blog time.

The two teams play again Saturday evening.

“It’s just one game”. “But if we play well, we’ve got a chance”. “Guys are playing hard. It went the other way, but you get after it tomorrow”.

The Brewers scored almost every way possible in the seventh. Santana is no stranger to the big leagues, as he received two cups of coffee with the Astros prior to being dealt.

Harper cut the margin to 5-2 with a solo homer in the sixth.

Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and drove in a run, and rookie Jimmy Nelson allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against Washington, which fell one game below.

Long time coming: In his 445th Major League appearance, Kyle Lohse logged his first save. He has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) in his past two starts.

Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run homer for Washington, which likely would need to win the East to make the playoffs. In the ninth inning, Turner ended the game by grounding out.

“You have to be ready for anything”, Turner said of how he made his debut. “I wasn’t that nervous”.

“He lost command of the strike zone”, Williams said. “He will have opportunities”. Joe Ross draws Saturday’s start against the Brewers who he will see for the second time.

The Washington Nationals are struggling right now and have fallen below the. His four two-homer games have accounted for more than half of his 14 home runs on the season. Santana hit two homers earlier this year with Houston. RHP Aaron Barrett was also moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL….

“It’s exciting”, said Santana, who was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs before Friday’s game. He was acquired in a trade with Houston on July 30. He replaces right-hander Tyler Cravy, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of a right elbow problem. Third baseman Yunel Escobar, hitting. He is day-to-day with a hyper-extended neck, Williams said.

During that clubhouse celebration, reliever Neal Cotts began packing his bag, having been told he was traded to Minnesota.