CHICAGO, June 25 (UPI) -- Ryan Zimmerman's two-run double finished off a four-run 14th inning Friday that gave the Washington Nationals a wild 9-5 win over the Chicago White Sox.
The Nationals continued their successful, but turbulent run despite losing a three-run lead in the ninth and letting a one-run advantage get away in both the 10th and 12th innings.
John McLaren was rewarded with a victory in his first game as interim Washington manager, although he was not around at the end of the contest. He was kicked out of the game before extra innings began.
McLaren took over after Jim Riggleman quit Thursday in a dispute with management, even though the Nationals have recently played their best baseball in years. Washington has won 12 of its last 13 games.
MLB.com reported Friday that veteran manager Davey Johnson would soon take over the Nationals. It would be his fifth major league managerial job.
All four of Washington's runs in the 14th were unearned.
After the first two batters in the inning were retired by Matt Thornton (0-4), Brian Bixler reached on an infield single. After Bixler stole second, Ian Desmond hit a grounder to shortstop Alexei Ramirez that should have ended the inning but Ramirez threw wildly to first allowing Bixler to score.
Jayson Werth was walked intentionally and Roger Bernadina then singled home Desmond. Zimmerman followed with his two-run double.
Colin Balester (1-0), called up from Class AAA Syracuse, got the win by working the final two innings. It was his fifth major league victory.
