While watching two fourth-place teams duke it out over a weekend is rarely exciting, the Nats and the Orioles made a good show of it in the first Battle of the Beltways. In the end, the Nationals got the upper hand by taking two of three from the now tied-for-last-place Orioles.

The weekend started like many others this season for the Nationals: with a loss. Alfonso Soriano provided the only offense for Washington with what was then his 14th home run. Meanwhile, the bullpen continued to struggle as Felix Rodriguez turned a 2-1 game into a 5-1 game by giving up 6 hits and 3 runs in 1.1 innings. Over 30,000 fans were in attendance to see Kris Benson throw a complete game five hitter.

On Saturday, the Nats overcame a shaky start by Tony Armas to down the Orioles 8-3. Armas threw 5 innings, giving up 7 hits and 5 walks, but the O’s couldn’t get the big hit they needed. Alfonso Soriano continued his home run tear, launching his 15th of the season, this one three-run shot in the 5th.