Patrick Corbin turned in one of his strongest outings of the season on Sunday against the Houston Astros, while his counterpart Justin Verlander labored even as he took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning.
But it was Verlander (5-1), who left with a lead after five, while the still winless Corbin (0-6) and the Nats’ defense faltered just enough in that crucial inning to open the door for an 8-0 Houston win in the series finale at Nationals Park.
Corbin allowed just three hits and a walk through four, but wound up working into the seventh, with three home runs accounting for half his hits and all five of his earned runs.