WASHINGTON (AP) -- This time, the "sun monster" helped Jayson Werth's Washington Nationals and hurt the Milwaukee Brewers.
A day after the Nationals misplayed a pair of fly balls in the midday glare, Werth wound up with a two-out, two-run double when Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez lost a ball in the sun to spark a big fourth inning Monday, and Washington beat Milwaukee 12-2 to cut its magic number for winning the NL East to five.
The Nationals improved to a majors-best 93-60 and increased their division lead over Atlanta to five games with nine to play.
Marco Estrada (4-7) lasted only four innings for the Brewers, who entered the day 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL's second wild-card berth.
