Walks costly for Nelson as Brewers fall to Nationals

Strasburg reportedly dislocated two ribs during the incident and popped them back in place, though the discomfort in his back lingered and prevented him from making his scheduled start against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday.

The Washington Nationals will try to end their 10-game road trip on a high note and look to snap a seven-game losing streak Sunday afternoon when they wrap up a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Strasburg felt pain in his back during a warm-up session before Saturday’s game.

“This isn’t a break as far as I’m concerned”, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said prior to the game, referring to Strasburg being held out and ultimately sent to the disabled list.

Strasburg has been the ace of the National’s rotation this season, posting a 10-0 record and 2.90 ERA in 14 starts. After hobbling to first base, he remained in the game. Nelson did not get a decision in a 5-3 defeat at Oakland last time out with a run given up on six hits in five frames. He allowed six runs on six hits over just three innings of work – his shortest outing of the year and putting the Nats in catch-up mode the rest of the game.

Nationals: RHP Roark (6-5, 3.18 ERA) last pitched on Tuesday at the Dodgers, allowing three runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 loss.

When Gonzalez is struggling, his starts tend to follow a typical script: trouble with command – he registered a walk and two hit batsmen – and bouts with pitch inefficiency.

The official scorer originally charged Milwaukee second baseman Scooter Gennett with an error on a sharp grounder hit by Ben Revere with two outs in the third. Back-to-back singles by Villar and Hill set the stage for Carter’s first-inning blast – his 19th of the year – that gave Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.

Jose Lobaton hit his first homer of the season in the seventh off Milwaukee reliever Jacob Barnes (0-1). The Brewers were down 3-1 in the 9th inning and got it down to a one run game but were not able to push across one more to send it to extra innings. A corresponding roster move to replace Strasburg on the roster will be announced Monday…. The Tigers aim to avoid a three-game sweep by the AL Central leaders at Comerica Park when Justin Verlander starts against Josh Tomlin.