Hernandez Leads Nationals to Win

Washington’s Livan Hernandez wasn’t his usual self because of a knee injury, yet he gave up one run in six innings and won his sixth consecutive start.

The plucky Nationals have scraped their way to five games over .500 after Thursday’s 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, capping an impressive homestand that has the team hanging with the NL East’s elite at the one-quarter mark of the season.

The Nationals took three of four from Milwaukee and went 5-2 during this stint at RFK Stadium, winning four games by one run.

Hernandez (7-2) left Saturday’s victory over the Chicago Cubs because of inflammation in his right knee and had fluid drained from the knee Monday, but the workhorse of the staff didn’t miss his scheduled start and gave up seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts before leaving for a pinch-hitter.

“I was throwing the ball with different mechanics,” said Hernandez, who stayed higher during his delivery to keep from putting too much pressure on his knee. “I didn’t want to push too hard.”

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Arizona 6, Houston 1 -- Diamondback rookie Brad Halsey outpitched Roger Clemens, and Luis Gonzalez hit a three-run homer at Houston.

Three Arizona relievers worked in and out of trouble to protect a 3-1 lead in the eighth, then Gonzalez gave the Diamondbacks a big cushion in the ninth with his sixth homer off Astro rookie reliever Mike Burns.

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Colorado 3, San Francisco 1 -- Rookie Jeff Francis stayed undefeated at Coors Field, throwing six innings and giving up one run.

Francis improved to 5-0 at the ballpark most pitchers love to hate, dating to late last season when he was called up from triple-A Colorado Springs.

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Philadelphia 7, St. Louis 4 -- Pat Burrell had three hits and two runs batted in and Brett Myers (4-2) struck out nine in seven innings at Philadelphia. Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds homered for the Cardinals, who lost a road series for only the second time this season.