Major League Baseball

Ramos homers, drives in 2 as Nationals defeat Giants 3-1

Published Jul. 5, 2015 11:22 p.m. ET

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WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is in a groove, and he wouldn't let the San Francisco Giants get back on track.

Zimmermann pitched seven solid innings, Wilson Ramos snapped a tie with a sixth-inning homer, and the Nationals beat the struggling Giants 3-1 on Sunday night, completing a three-game sweep.

Ramos added an RBI single in the eighth and Bryce Harper, voted a starter on the National League All-Star team, had a double and single.

Zimmermann (7-5) has allowed one run over 22 2-3 innings in his last three starts.

''I just think he's got a feel for his breaking pitches that (he) didn't have necessarily early in the season,'' manager Matt Williams said. ''It probably helps that's it's gotten warmer and more humid and can grip the ball better.''

Drew Storen pitched the ninth, picking up his 25th save for Washington, which has won nine straight at home.

The last time he faced the Giants, Zimmermann held them scoreless for 8 2-3 innings in Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS before exiting after walking Joe Panik. He was charged with a run after Panik later scored to tie the game, which San Francisco won 2-1 in 18 innings.

''Any time you sweep a team it's special. We're looking to win series and that's our goal,'' Zimmermann said. ''To take three from those guys and send them back home, it's big for our ballclub.''

Zimmermann allowed Brandon Crawford's 12th homer on a 3-0 pitch in the fourth inning Sunday, then retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced.

The Giants, who lost manager Bruce Bochy and starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong to ejections, finished 0-6 on their road trip.

''Well, there's time (to turn things around) before the All-Star break,'' Bochy said. ''That's how we have to look at it.''

Bochy and Vogelsong were ejected by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fifth inning after complaining about the strike zone.

The Giants had shown displeasure with Cuzzi's strike zone several times before Vogelsong's 1-2 pitch to Denard Span was called a ball.

Bochy appeared to say something from the dugout. Cuzzi turned toward Bochy, and Vogelsong soon began walking toward the plate. Cuzzi ejected Vogelsong.

''I'm not going to get into what the exchange was,'' Vogelsong said. ''Obviously I was frustrated with the pitch. I guess he was frustrated with my reaction. And I got thrown out.''

Bochy came out and was ejected shortly thereafter.

Vogelsong allowed a run on three hits. He struck out two and walked three.

Reliever George Kontos (2-1) allowed Ramos' homer.

Washington took a 1-0 lead on Michael A. Taylor's RBI single in the second.

DELAYED DEPARTURE

Rather than return to San Francisco after the game, Bochy and his players chose to stay overnight in Washington and fly back in the morning. Bochy said the Giants will get in around 1 p.m. local time and travel by bus to AT&T Park for Monday night's game against the Mets.

''The red-eye just seems like it flattens us,'' he said before the game. ''Not that we don't look flat now.''

SPAN STREAK STOPPED

Denard Span went 0 for 4, putting an end to his streak of reaching base safely in 23 consecutive games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: OF Hunter Pence (left wrist tendinitis) took batting practice on the field for the first time since going on the disabled list. ... LHP Jeremy Affeldt (left shoulder strain) has begun playing catch.

Nationals: The Nationals placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled with a strained left oblique, one day after he left his start in the fourth inning. ... OF Jayson Werth (fractured left wrist) took swings with a fungo bat on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Chris Heston (8-5, 3.78) no-hit the Mets on June 9 at Citi Field. He opposes them at AT&T Park on Monday night when the Giants open a six-game homestand. Jonathan Niese (3-8, 3.90) pitches for the Mets.

Nationals: RHP Doug Fister (3-4, 4.34) makes his third career start against the Reds on Monday night. He's 2-0 against them with 1.29 ERA. RHP Anthony DeSciafani (5-6, 3.68) pitches for the Reds.

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