The Royals lost for the sixth time in seven games and have been shut out in three of their last four. In the six losses, they have scored seven runs.
Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez survived a shaky two-run first inning and settled down to shut out the Nationals over the next 6 2/3, with Danny Duffy coming on to fan Bryce Harper with two out in the scoreless eighth. Volquez gave up seven hits and struck out seven.
Daniel Murphy, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Nationals, got his 1,000th career hit in the sixth inning.