WASHINGTON, July 6 (UPI) -- Ryan Zimmerman smashed a homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday, sending the Washington Nationals to a 6-5 win over San Diego.
Zimmerman pounced on an offering from Luke Gregerson (2-4), sending it over the wall in center field for his second homer of the game and 16th of the year to cap a comeback that saw the Nationals blow a three-run lead in the eighth.
The dramatic homer made a winner of Matt Capps (3-3), who threw a scoreless ninth despite allowing two hits on a hot evening in Washington in which the game-time temperature was 99 degrees.
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond preserved the tie in the top of the ninth when he relayed a throw from the outfield to cut down Jerry Hairston Jr. at the plate as he was trying to score on brother Scott Hairston's double.
Scott Hairston and Adrian Gonzalez each had two hits and one RBI for San Diego.
