Owings falls to 6-3 as Nationals beat D'backs

PHOENIX - Willie Harris snapped out of a slump with a tiebreaking three-run homer, helping the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks and Gainesville native Micah Owings 7-4 on Friday night.

Harris went deep on an 0-1 pitch from Owings (6-3) with one out in the seventh to put the Nationals in front 6-3. He had one hit in his previous 18 at-bats before the drive over the right-field fence.

The rally began when Owings (6-3) hit .143-hitting Rob Mackowiak, who had struck out his first two trips. A single by Elijah Dukes set the stage for Harris' second homer.

Joel Hanrahan (1-2) threw 1 2-3 scoreless innings, and Jon Rauch pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances and his 10th in a row.

Orlando Hudson and Chad Tracy hit solo homers for the Diamondbacks, who have lost five straight. It's their longest skid since they dropped five in a row last July 4-8.

With its ninth loss in 11 games, Arizona's NL West lead dwindled to 2 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run single by Jesus Flores, who left after seven innings after twice being hit in the head with foul tips. The team said the catcher was experiencing headaches and nausea.

Redding entered 0-5 lifetime with a 6.30 ERA against Arizona. But he dominated the Diamondbacks early, allowing only a walk to Owings in the first three innings.

Arizona finally got to Redding in the fourth, when Hudson hit a 1-0 pitch out to right to cut Washington's lead to 2-1.

The Diamondbacks tied it in the fifth. Jeff Salazar drew a leadoff walk, moved up on singles by Owings and Chris Young and scored on Stephen Drew's sacrifice fly.

Owings gave the run back in the sixth on singles by Cristian Guzman and Dmitri Young and Lastings Milledge's sacrifice fly to center.

Owings gave up six runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out six, hit two and walked none.

Arizona tied it at 3 on Chris Snyder's RBI single in the sixth.

Redding went 5 1-3 innings, allowing three runs and four hits. He walked five and struck out one.