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WSH@BAL: Scott robs Pudge of a hit with a nice grab

BALTIMORE -- After scoring eight runs against Washington on Saturday, the Baltimore bats had a hard time doing anything against Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann on Sunday. Through six innings, the Orioles could only manage one hit off Zimmermann, who retired 13 straight batters heading into the seventh.

That is, until the heart of the O's lineup came up to bat.

Outfielder Nick Markakis hit a leadoff single to right, putting the tying run on base for Vladimir Guerrero. The Baltimore designated hitter, who had been hitting .371 in May coming into Sunday's game, belted a Zimmermann curveball 365 feet into left field for a two-run homer and a 2-1 victory in the rubber game of the Battle of the Beltways.

While it took the Orioles seven innings to figure out Zimmermann, starter Chris Tillman gave the Nationals opportunities to score early and often. Despite giving up only one earned run, Tillman needed 97 pitches to get through five innings, giving up six hits and striking out four.

In the top of the first, a call from home plate umpire Todd Tichenor prevented Washington centerfielder Roger Bernadina from advancing to first on a bunt. Just as it had appeared Bernadina had safely reached first, Tichenor made the ruling that he had stepped out of the batter's box on the bunt, and was therefore out. As Tichenor made his call, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman sprang from the dugout, argued his case to the umpire, and was thrown out two pitches into the game.

Ian Desmond followed the contested call with a double. Had Bernadina been ruled safe, Tillman would have found himself in some early trouble.

The right-hander was able to wiggle out of a jam in the third. With runners at second and third and one out, Tillman struck out Desmond swinging and Laynce Nix looking to escape the inning unscathed.

It appeared that Tillman would once again pitch himself out of a difficult situation in the fourth, but the Nationals capitalized on the opportunity.

Washington right fielder Jayson Werth led the inning off with a double, followed by a walk. With one out, Tillman hit second baseman Danny Espinosa to load the bases. An Ivan Rodriguez fly out to right was set to score Werth from third, but an on-target throw from Markakis kept Werth from tagging up. ?

Tillman kept his composure against the next batter, Alex Cora, getting ahead of the third baseman, 0-2. However, Cora struck a liner that richocheted off Tillman and was mishandled by Mark Reynolds, allowing Werth to score and give put the O's in a 1-0 hole.

The Baltimore bullpen finished the job after Guerrero's homer, shutting out the Nationals over the final three innings. Kevin Gregg shut the door in the ninth to record his eighth save.

Avi Zaleon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.