WASHINGTON (AP) - The Nationals have not treated their fans to many victories at their new ballpark this season. When they win, though, it's often a spectacular show.
MLB roundup
Sunday's action
- Tigers complete sweep of Rox
- Slowey hurls gem to beat Brewers
- ChiSox complete sweep of Cubs
- Belliard's HR in 12th wins it for Nats
- Rays not half bad against Pirates
- Marlins rally in 9th to beat D-backs
- Mets salvage split in Subway Series
- Burnett's gem sends Jays to win
- Reds take series from Indians
- Rookies lift Rangers over Phillies
- Astros rally to win rubber game
- LaRue drives in four as Cards roll
- Angels rebound with shutout win
- Sanchez gets win as Giants roll
- M's complete sweep of Padres
More on MLB:
- Ringolsby: Rockies repeat possible
- Rosenthal: He loves this game
- Perry: Dodger's health plan
- Rosenberg: Could it be Cubs turn?
Photo gallery:
- Final weekend of interleague
- Summer action heats up
Greatest Yankee moments:
The All-Star Game (July 15, FOX) will be the last one played at Yankee Stadium. As we say goodbye to the "House,"
Dayn Perry busts out his list of the best moments from Yankee lore.
POLL: Vote for your favorite!Ronnie Belliard hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning to give Washington a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in front of 39,824 - the largest crowd in the three-month history of Nationals Park.
Of Washington's 18 home wins, eight have come in the final at-bat.
"I want to win some games that (we) just lay back and win, but with this team, this is the way we have to win," Belliard said.
The Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 12th on Adam Jones' single.
George Sherrill (2-3) retired the first two batters in the bottom half. But he walked pinch-hitter Dmitri Young, Washington's last available position player.
Belliard then drove a 1-2 slider for his sixth homer of the year into the left-field stands. Belliard's hit snapped an 0-for-13 slump.
"I got lucky. I got lucky," Belliard said. "I was looking for a pitch to pull."
Sherrill thought his 0-2 pitch had touched the black and that he had recorded a game-ending strikeout, but Belliard backed off. A moment later, Sherrill, who hadn't pitched in five days, blew his fourth save in 30 chances.
"We battled and got a run there and I gave up two," Sherrill said.
Young was impressed with Belliard's homer: "It was a very mental at-bat. ... Cerebral."
Baltimore ended interleague play with an 11-7 record - tied for its best in history.
Manager Dave Trembley thought the Orioles, who split their six games with the Nationals could have won all three games this weekend - instead of just one.
"It's too bad it ended up the way it did," Trembley said. "I thought our guys gave it everything they had. We were one pitch away from getting it done. It didn't happen."
Joel Hanrahan (5-2), the Nationals' sixth pitcher, relieved with runners on first and second and two outs in the 12th and allowed Jones' go-ahead single. He then retired Guillermo Quiroz to end the inning and set the stage for another thrilling win.
The Nationals scored in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Roger Bernadina singled in his first major league at-bat. He moved to second when Cristian Guzman was hit by a pitch by Jeremy Guthrie. Elijah Dukes walked to load the bases, and Bernadina scored on an infield out by Aaron Boone.
After Jason Bergmann had shut the Orioles out for the first six innings, Luke Scott drove a ball into the right-center field stands for his 14th home run of the year - his second in two games - to tie the score at 1.
Bergmann is winless in his last eight starts. He last won on May 15 when he pitched seven shutout innings against the New York Mets, allowing just three hits. Since then, he's lost four games and pitched to four no-decisions. Bergmann gave up one run and six hits in seven innings.
While Bergmann hasn't won since May 15, he's watched lots of dramatic endings.
"We know how to win," Bergmann said. "The right guy comes at the right time."
Guthrie allowed four hits in seven innings. He walked three, struck out four and hit a batter. In four career starts against Washington, he's allowed just four earned runs in 28 innings for a 1.29 ERA, but has won just once with three no-decisions.
Guthrie also had his first major league hit - a fifth-inning double, but he was quickly picked off.
Notes
Baltimore lost for the 12th consecutive Sunday. They're now 1-12 on Sundays overall. ... LHP Adam Loewen told Trembley that he's ready to return to the team. Loewen has been on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder soreness since April 25. Trembley said he would confer with team president Andy MacPhail before activating him. ...The Nationals signed two draft choices, OF J.R. Higley (9th round) and RHP Christopher Kelley (24th round). ...Washington Manager Manny Acta said that 3B Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list with a tear in his left shoulder since May 26, is improving and has begun lifting weights and should soon begin to take batting practice. ... The Nationals used four left fielders: Wily Mo Pena, Willie Harris, Kory Casto and Paul Lo Duca.
