A Danny Espinosa homer broke a seventh-inning tie, and Joe Ross was solid in a 2-1 Washington win over St. Louis on Thursday.
Ross (4-4, 2.52 ERA) allowed a run on six hits in seven innings of work, striking out four and walking one.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 13th save.
Aledmys Diaz homered for St. Louis (24-24), and Bryce Harper went deep for the Nats (29-19), Harper’s 12th of the season.
Anthony Rendon was 2-for-3 at the plate for Washington.