The game had been locked in a pitchers' duel until then between right-handers Max Scherzer of Washington and Austin Bibens-Dirkx of Texas.
Bibens-Dirkx, who spent time in the Nationals' organization in 2012 and was making his second career start, matched the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. He gave up consecutive hits in the first, including a leadoff homer to Brian Goodwin, but then settled in to throw seven innings of one-run ball and pick up his second career win.
Scherzer notched his 2,000th career strikeout in the fourth against Nomar Mazara on his way to another stellar outing during his recent hot streak.