Hernandez Lifts Nationals

It looked to be a mismatch: Livan Hernandez pitching on an extra day’s rest against a struggling Oakland lineup.

Hernandez threw eight strong innings to win his eighth straight decision, and Nick Johnson hit a three-run double to lift the Washington Nationals past the Athletics, 4-3, Thursday night at Washington for their season-best seventh victory in a row.

Sure, Hernandez gave up hits here and there -- he always does -- but he didn’t allow the A’s to score until the eighth. The right-hander threw 127 pitches one start after tossing 150.

Then he went down into the clubhouse and watched the ninth inning on TV while talking on the phone to his mother. Chad Cordero gave up an unearned run in the ninth before getting his 17th save, but that just fit the pattern: It was the Nationals’ 14th one-run victory, tied for the NL lead.

“I wasn’t nervous,” Hernandez said. “I know if something’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. And everything that’s happening is good for us now.”

San Diego 3, Cleveland 2 -- Adam Eaton played stopper again, pitching seven strong innings and driving in a run as the Padres won at San Diego to end their four-game losing streak.

The Padres won despite getting only three hits, including Brian Giles’ solo homer with two outs in the sixth.

Eaton (9-1) won his career-best eighth straight decision and kept the Padres from being swept.

San Francisco 9, Kansas City 7 -- Edgardo Alfonzo hit a go-ahead single in the sixth inning and pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz had a key two-run double at San Francisco.

Scott Munter (1-0) earned his first major league victory, and the slumping Giants won for only the second time in 13 games. Tyler Walker got four outs for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Cincinnati 14, Tampa Bay 5 -- Luke Hudson won his season debut with six solid innings at Cincinnati, and the Reds completed a three-game sweep of the Devil Rays, baseball’s worst road team.

Seattle 8, Florida 0 -- Aaron Sele threw seven strong innings at Miami and Randy Winn celebrated his 31st birthday with his first homer of the year.

Arizona 4, Minnesota 3 -- Jose Cruz Jr. homered to start a three-run fourth inning and the Diamondbacks won at Phoenix.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Houston 6, New York 3 -- Morgan Ensberg hit an RBI double and Adam Everett had a two-run single in the 11th inning, and the Astros won their second road series of the season by beating the Mets.