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Major League Baseball
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Washington 3, Houston 2
When: 8:05 PM ET, Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Temperature: Indoors
Umpires: Home - Mark Carlson, 1B - Angel Hernandez, 2B - Ed Hickox, 3B - Chris Conroy
Attendance: 14273

Nationals 3, Astros 2 (12):
Danny Espinosa singled in the winning run in the 12th and homered earlier in the contest as visiting Washington won its second straight extra-inning game over Houston.

Knotted at 2-2 since the second inning, the Nationals finally got something going in the 12th when Michael Morse led off with a double to center off rookie right-hander Mickey Storey (0-1). Roger Bernadina laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Morse to third and Espinosa followed with a single up the middle through a drawn-in infield to drive in the go-ahead run.

Drew Storen (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Tyler Clippard bounced back from a blown save on Monday with a scoreless 12th for his 23rd save. Center fielder Bernadina jumped into the wall to make the catch for the last out, robbing Brett Wallace of extra bases and saving the game.

Houston has lost 32 of its last 36 games.

The Astros struck first against Ross Detwiler, who walked Jose Altuve leading off the first. Detwiler retired a batter before Ben Francisco cranked an 0-1 fastball into the Crawford Boxes in left field for a 2-0 lead.

The Nationals responded in kind in the second inning against Jordan Lyles. With two outs and a runner on first, Espinosa turned on a first-pitch fastball and sent it into the first row of the upper deck in right for his 11th home run.

Lyles ended up working seven-plus innings and was charged with two runs on just three hits while walking three and striking out six. The 21-year-old right-hander had allowed at least four runs in each of his previous four starts and has not won since June 26.

Detwiler lasted seven innings, surrendering two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Astros placed CF Jordan Schafer on the 15-day DL with a separated left shoulder. OF Brandon Barnes was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take the empty roster spot. RHP Juan Abreu was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. … Nationals OF Jayson Werth did not start after leaving Monday’s game with soreness in his legs. He singled as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning but did not stay in to play the field. … Storey had not allowed a hit in two previous major-league appearances.
Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Washington   Houston
Ross Detwiler Player Jordan Lyles
No Decision W/L No Decision
7.0 IP 7.0
2 Strikeouts 6
3 Hits 3
2.57 ERA 2.57
Hitting
Washington   Houston
Danny Espinosa Player Steve Pearce
2 Hits 2
3 RBI 0
1 HR 0
5 TB 2
.400 Avg .500
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Washington 6 1 12 .146 11 13 3 3 0 0
Houston 5 1 8 .128 13 5 2 6 1 0