WASHINGTON -- Wilson Ramos hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning Thursday in his Fourth of July return to the Washington Nationals, leading an 8-5 matinee win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Back after missing 44 games with a strained left hamstring, Ramos had three hits and a career-high five RBIs as the Nationals earned a split of the four-game series and moved back above .500 in their seesaw season.
Ian Desmond, moved to the No. 2 spot in a lineup "epiphany" from manager Davey Johnson, had three hits, stole two bases and scored two runs. Taylor Jordan allowed two runs over 5 2-3 innings in his second major league start, and Drew Storen (3-2) got the win despite blowing a 5-2 lead in the seventh.
Ramos and the Nationals quickly bailed out Storen with a two-out rally. Jayson Werth singled off Tom Gorzelanny (1-1). Reliever Brandon Kintzler walked Anthony Rendon and Ramos homered.
Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.
On a star-spangled day in the nation's capital, the game began at 11:06 a.m. and featured a national anthem sang by Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a new "Freedom Song" performed by Neil Diamond.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, METS 4, 15 INNINGS
NEW YORK -- Cliff Pennington hit an RBI single with two outs in the 15th inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks, boosted early by Gerardo Parra's bunt double, outlasted the Mets to split an exhausting series at Citi Field.
Arizona scored in the final three innings but couldn't close out the feisty Mets until Brad Ziegler retired Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a grounder with runners at second and third to end a game that lasted 5 hours, 46 minutes.
Anthony Recker and Nieuwenhuis hit tying homers in consecutive extra innings for New York, which dropped its final home appearance before hosting the All-Star game July 16.
In a span of four days, the teams played a 13-inning game, a 15-inning marathon and two others delayed by rain for a total of 3½ hours.
Chaz Roe (1-0) got the win. Scott Rice (3-5) took the loss.
PHILLIES 6, PIRATES 4
PITTSBURGH -- Major league loss leader Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings, Carlos Ruiz hit a tiebreaking single and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hamels (3-11) gave up one earned run and five hits, striking out eight without a walk. The former World Series MVP won for the first time since June 5.
Cole (4-1) lost for the first time in the majors after becoming the first Pirates' pitcher to win his first four career starts since Nick Maddox in 1907. Cole allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth inning for his 17th save in 21 opportunities.
MARLINS 4, BRAVES 3
ATLANTA -- Donovan Solano had a pinch-hit, go-ahead single off Braves closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning to lift Miami.
The Marlins won two of three in the series and have won eight of their last 10 overall.
Marcell Ozuna had three hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs for Miami.
A.J. Ramos (3-2) allowed one hit with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Steve Cishek pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
Kimbrel (2-2) issued walks to Ed Lucas and Logan Morrison, and struck out Stanton and Ozuna before Solano batted for Derek Dietrich.
ROCKIES 9, DODGERS 5
DENVER -- Michael Cuddyer hit a solo homer and drove in three runs to help Colorado avoid getting swept by Los Angeles in their three-game series.
Cuddyer, who recently had his team-record, 27-game hitting streak snapped, also added a two-run double.
Carlos Gonzalez contributed an RBI double before leaving late in the game with an apparent injury.
The Dodgers struggled to drive in runners against Jhoulys Chacin (8-3), a night after setting season highs in runs (10) and hits (17). The hard-throwing righty pitched out of trouble time and again, giving up four runs in 5 2-3 innings.
Yasiel Puig was in the lineup a day after leaving the contest early with a bruised hip after crashing into the wall. He finished 1 for 5 with an RBI as the Dodgers had their four-game winning streak halted.