Nationals’ Rebound Continues in 6-3 Win

Preston Wilson homered twice, Livan Hernandez gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings, and the Washington Nationals won again on the road, beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-3, Monday night.

The Nationals, knocked out of first place during a second-half slump, have now put themselves in contention for the National League wild card. Coming off a three-game sweep in Colorado, Washington won its fourth in a row overall.

Hernandez (14-5) stifled the surging Phillies and showed no effects of the balky right knee that has bothered him this season. Nick Johnson and Brian Schneider homered for the Nationals.

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Houston 12, Chicago 4 -- Morgan Ensberg hit a long home run and finished four for four with three runs batted in, and Chris Burke, Adam Everett and Humberto Quintero homered in Houston to help the Astros follow consecutive shutouts with their second-highest scoring game of the season.

Astro rookie Willy Taveras had his fourth four-hit game, in six at-bats.

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Colorado 11, Milwaukee 2 -- Aaron Cook earned his first win in more than a year, Garrett Atkins homered and drove in four runs, and host Colorado ended a four-game losing streak.

Cook (1-1) returned to Colorado’s rotation on July 30 after missing nearly a year with blood clots in his lungs that nearly killed him.