WASHINGTON — David Hernandez ended a run of 16 straight starts without a victory, Adam Jones broke out of a lengthy home run drought and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Friday night.
Backup catcher Craig Tatum had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, who improved to 6-17 on the road. Baltimore took an early 4-0 lead and made it stand up in this interleague duel dubbed "The Battle of the Beltways."
Hernandez (1-5) allowed one hit — by pitcher Miguel Batista — and walked five in 5 1/3 innings. He had lost 11 straight decisions since beating Oakland on Aug. 11, 2009, the second-longest dry spell in Orioles history behind Mike Boddicker's 13-game skid (1987-88).
Willie Harris homered for the Nationals, who have lost seven of eight to fall under .500 for the first time since April 15.
Hernandez was pulled after issuing successive one-out walks in the sixth. Matt Albers came in and walked Josh Willingham before giving up a run-scoring groundout to Ivan Rodriguez, then yielded a two-run homer to Harris in the seventh.
The Orioles made it 5-3 in the eighth when Tatum walked and scored on a two-out single by Corey Patterson.
Alfredo Simon, the fifth Baltimore pitcher, worked the ninth to complete the five-hitter and earn his sixth save.
Nationals starter Scott Olsen (2-2) allowed four runs and six hits in three innings before leaving with left shoulder tightness. The left-hander gave up as many runs in this game as he did in last five starts combined.
The Orioles went up 2-0 in the second inning when Luke Scott hit a leadoff single and Jones followed with his fourth home run, the first since April 24. Jones left in the fourth inning, however, with leg cramps.
In the top of the third, a single and two walks loaded the bases for Tatum, who hit a two-run single up the middle. Tatum was subbing for injured Matt Wieters, who sat out the game with a sore right knee.
Notes
Wieters was rested after fouling a ball off his knee in Thursday's game against Texas. He expects to play Saturday. … In his 10th game since being summoned from the minors, Patterson recorded this third stolen base — taking over the team lead. But he was caught leaning too far off third base in the fourth inning and tagged out in a rundown. … The Orioles took a 13-12 lead in the series, which began in 2006. … Washington's Adam Dunn walked twice, but his nine-game hitting streak ended. … Nationals manager Jim Riggleman called on P Livan Hernandez to pinch hit in the third inning. He struck out.