Sweep 16th: Twins go extras, still lose another to Nationals

Harper was supposed to have a day off, but stepped up to lead off the ninth with Washington trailing 4-3 and connected for the first pinch-hit homer of his career.

Harper has clubbed six homers during a sizzling eight-game RBI streak in which he has knocked in 17 runs for the NL East-leading Nationals, who are coming off a four-game split at Miami.

Zimmerman and Harper were the only two Washington Nationals hitters to have multi-hit games today (Harper had two doubles) As for Hughes, the Twins' right-hander went seven innings, gave up two runs on six hits, struck out two, and walked two on 94 pitches (66 strikes) in the loss.

After Brian Dozier hit a three-run homer off Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg for a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning, the Twins' bullpen gave away the lead. A victor of 24 games the past two years, he has never faced Washington.

Jonathan Papelbon got three outs to complete the combined two-hitter and earn his seventh save.

Miguel Sano had a two-out RBI single in the top of the 15th to give the Twins a 5-4 lead.

The Nationals scattered eight hits against a pair of Minnesota pitchers, with starter Kyle Gibson (0-3, 6.10 ERA) allowing seven runs on seven hits, including four runs in the first that enabled Washington to build an insurmountable lead. His hit scored Eduardo Nunez, who had singled for his fourth hit of the day and was ruled safe on a steal of second following a replay review in which he was originally called out. Wilson Ramos then golfed a double to the left center and the Nationals were down just 4-3.

Quintana retired 11 straight through six innings until he loaded the bases on Prince Fielder's double, Adrian Beltre's single, and a walk. 161 at game time, had two infield singles for the Nationals and Daniel Murphy, den Dekker and Jayson Werth also had two hits for Washington. Granderson had three hits, including another homer off Norris in the fourth, giving him four on the season.

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper, left, dives back to first during the first inning of an interleague baseball game as Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) waits for the ball, Friday, April 22, 2016, in Washington. Pinch hitter Clint Robinson, however, struck out and Matt den Dekker flied out to right field to end the threat, a theme of the Nationals' day. Strasburg will look to stay undefeated, as he has posted a 3-0 start to his season. Santana did not receive a decision in a 6-5 loss to Milwaukee with two runs plated on five hits and a trio of BB over five frames.

Suarez's homer off Lackey (3-1) put the Reds up 5-3 and started a seven-run inning. Danny Espinosa scored from second to tie the game 5-5.

Washington made it 7-0 with three in the third, one coming on Lobaton's first triple since 2013.

The Nationals had produced only one run for Gonzalez in his first two starts.

With a wind-up reminiscent of countryman Hideo Nomo, Maeda was cruising along until one out in the sixth when DJ LeMahieu singled for Colorado's first hit. But Murphy's throw sailed into right field for an error, putting Perez on second to set up the Perez bunt. He pitched in five games in 2011 with Washington before he was traded to the Oakland A's after the season....

Gonzalez (1-0) enjoyed offensive support for the first time in three starts while allowing three runs - two earned - on six hits.