Nationals get two-run homer in ninth to upend Brewers

CJ Abrams had a two-run homer in the ninth inning as the visiting Washington Nationals completed a comeback from an early five-run deficit to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Saturday.

Luis Garcia Jr. singled to open the ninth off closer Trevor Megill (0-2), who had converted 18 of 19 save opportunities. Garcia advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and Abrams followed with his 15th homer, sending a 1-0 pitch 416 feet to right-center.

Washington trailed 5-0 after one inning but scored three in the fourth off starter Dallas Keuchel. Garcia opened the seventh with a pinch-hit homer, his 11th blast of the season, off Jakob Junis to make it 5-4.

Five relievers combined to keep the Brewers in check after the first. Derek Law (5-2) tossed a scoreless eighth for the win. Kyle Finnegan finished for his 25th save in 29 chances.

Right-fielder Lane Thomas preserved the win with a leaping grab at the wall with two outs in the ninth and a runner at second.

The Brewers jumped on Mitchell Parker immediately. Jackson Chourio doubled to open the first and Joey Ortiz walked. Parker fanned the next two, but Rhys Hoskins lined a two-run double to left. Sal Frelick worked an 11-pitch walk, and Andruw Monasterio followed with a ground-rule double to center, making it 3-0 and chasing Parker after just 46 pitches.

Jordan Weems relieved and walked Blake Perkins to load the bases. Eric Haase followed with a two-run single to center.

The Nationals drew two walks in the eighth, but Megill relieved with two outs and struck out pinch hitter Jesse Winker.

The Nationals chased Keuchel with five consecutive hits to open the fourth. Juan Yepez, James Wood, and Harold Ramirez each singled to make it 5-1. Ildemaro Vargas followed with an RBI double off the glove of Ortiz at third, and Riley Adams added an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3.

Junis came on and got Trey Lipscomb on a foul pop and then enticed Jacob Young into an inning-ending double play.

--Field Level Media