Nationals 5, Twins 4
WASHINGTON -- Ian Desmond broke a tie with an RBI double in the seventh inning, and the Washington Nationals came back to beat the Minnesota Twins 5-4 Sunday night and take both games in a day-night doubleheader.
The hit to left-center off reliever Anthony Swarzak (1-2) extended Desmond's hitting streak to a career-high 12 games and scored Adam LaRoche, who legged out a double to right with one out.
The Nationals, who trailed 4-1 in the third, head to Colorado after winning for just the fourth time in the last 10 games. Minnesota (27-33), which begins a series Tuesday at Philadelphia, has lost four of its last five.
Washington (31-31) tied the game at 4 in the sixth on a triple by former Twin Denard Span. The hit scored rookie Anthony Rendon, who led off with a single against Swarzak.
Tyler Clippard (5-1) got the win for Washington with a scoreless seventh. Drew Storen pitched the eighth for the Nationals, and closer Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 16th save even though he gave up two singles and left the possible tying run at third. Soriano retired Josh Willingham for the final out on a foul pop.
Washington's Roger Bernadina reached base his first four times to the plate, with two singles and two walks, before he fanned in the eighth. He entered the game with a .170 batting average.
The game was the second of the day between the teams and was a makeup from a rainout Friday. In the opener, Jordan Zimmermann threw seven innings of two-hit ball, and the Nationals beat the Twins 7-0.
Pedro Florimon, the No. 8 hitter for the Twins, hit a two-run homer to right to give Minnesota a 4-1 lead in the third against Washington rookie Nathan Karns, who who making his third major league start.
Washington pulled to within 4-2 in the bottom of the third on the second RBI single of the game for Jayson Werth. For the second time, he drove in Roger Bernadina, who singled to lead off the inning.
Adam LaRoche hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the fifth to cut the Twins' lead to 4-3 against Minnesota starter Samuel Deduno.
Deduno gave up three runs (two earned) in five innings.
The Twins took a 2-1 lead in the second when Chris Herrmann hit a two-run double.
Werth staked Washington to a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single to left to score Bernadina, who had singled and taken second on a walk to Ryan Zimmerman.
Karns threw 55 pitches in the first two innings and 74 overall before he was replaced after three innings. He allowed four runs and five hits with three walks.
The game was delayed by rain for 12 minutes in the last of the fifth with the Twins leading 4-1 with one out. Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks was replaced after the rain delay due to a left hamstring strain. Clete Thomas entered the game.
NOTES: Both teams are off Monday and both begin a road series Tuesday. Twins RHP P.J. Walters (2-1, 3.44) is slated to start Tuesday at Philadelphia against LHP Cole Hamels (2-9, 4.56). Walters has made three starts this year and has allowed 25 hits in 18 innings ... Nationals RHP Dan Haren (4-7, 5.45) is scheduled to start Tuesday at Colorado against RHP Jhoulys Chancin (3-3, 4.59). ... Minnesota's Joe Mauer got the start at first base in the late game Sunday after he sat out the first game. He started at catcher Friday. ... Denard Span was back in center for the Nationals in the second game Sunday. He fouled a ball off his foot Saturday. Rookie Jeff Kobernus started in center in the first game Sunday and had his first two big-league hits, the first of which was a dribbler to third. ... Hicks and former Twins center fielder Span chatted before the game. Hicks has taken over in center after Span was traded to Washington in November.
