WASHINGTON — Jorge Mateo drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the 12th inning, and the Baltimore Orioles again overcame a hesitant performance by closer Craig Kimbrel to beat the Nationals 7-6 on Wednesday. Washington and avoid being swept for the first time in almost two years.
Kimbrel blew a save for the third time in his last five starts. The right-hander is tied for fifth all-time with 425 career saves, but as a closer his control doesn’t stand out, causing him to blow four of 12 chances.
Despite everything, the Orioles, leaders of the American League East Division, split the two-game series and extended their streak of regular-season series without being swept to 103, the fourth-best mark in Major League history. Suspenders.
Anthony Santander also homered off Nationals rookie left-hander Mitchell Parker, who had not allowed a full-round hit in his four previous starts in the majors.
Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz singled in each of his first two at-bats to break a 3-for-51 skid.
For the Nationals, Mexican Joey Meneses was 0-5 with two runs scored. Venezuelan Ildemaro Vargas went 1-1 with one RBI. Puerto Rican Eddie Rosario is 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.
