News » a career-high 16 games with a third-inning single. ... P

PHILADELPHIA -- Still clinging to post-season hopes, the Washington Nationals will take every win they can get. Wilson Ramos hit a three-run homer and Corey Brown also went deep to back Gio Gonzalez, helping the Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-6 Tuesday night. The Nationals remained 7 1/2 games behind Cincinnati for the second wild-card spot after overcoming a sloppy all-around effort that included three errors, four unearned runs and four wild pitches. "That was an ugly game, one of the ugliest Ive seen," manager Davey Johnson said. "Thats not the way to win a pennant, Ill tell you that." Gonzalez (9-6) gave up five runs -- one earned -- and five hits, striking out six in 5 2-3 innings. The lefty has two straight wins after going seven starts without one. Ramos connected in the second and the Nationals never trailed. Brown hit a solo shot into the second deck off Luis Garcia in his first big-league at-bat of the season in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-5. "The first time back there were a lot of emotions going on," Brown said. "I just tried to tell myself to get a good pitch to hit." Phillies rookie Ethan Martin (2-4) allowed five runs and four hits in 4 2-3 innings. The righty hasnt reached five innings in his last three starts. "Its frustrating," Martin said. "Im trying to go as deep as I can and when I cant do that, its frustrating." Cody Asche was 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs for Philadelphia. Rafael Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth for his 37th save in 43 chances. A crowd of 28,826 was the smallest at Citizens Bank Park since April 3, 2008, when 25,831 turned out for a game, also against the Nationals, according to STATS LLC. That was the last time the Phillies drew under 30,000. After leading the majors in attendance in 2011-12, the Phillies are fourth in the NL this season. But theyre averaging 6,000 fewer people than last year. Gonzalez faced a lineup missing Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Domonic Brown. Rollins and Utley had the day off and Brown remains sidelined with soreness in his right Achilles. "I was a little uncomfortable the whole game," Gonzalez said. "They were being patient and I wasnt pounding the strike zone. A win doesnt have to be pretty, but just a win." Control issues cost Martin. He hit Jayson Werth on the left forearm with a 93 mph fastball leading off the second. After Adam LaRoches one-out walk, Ramos drove one out to right-centre for a 3-0 lead. Martin walked three in the fifth, including LaRoche with two outs and the bases loaded to force in a run. Justin De Fratus came in and walked Ramos to force in Washingtons fifth run. Werth and Ian Desmond had RBI singles in the sixth for the Nationals to make it 7-2. Asches two-run single in the fourth got the Phillies within one. Kevin Frandsen led off with a single and Carlos Ruiz reached on third baseman Ryan Zimmermans fielding error. They advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Asches hit up the middle. Shoddy defence hurt Gonzalez again in the sixth. With two outs, John Mayberry Jr. reached on shortstop Desmonds throwing error that scored Darin Ruf. Michael Martinez followed with an RBI single and went all the way to third on catcher Ramos fielding error. Gonzalez exited and pinch-hitter Utley greeted Ryan Mattheus with an RBI single that cut it to 7-5. "Theres a few cracks in the dam and Im trying to plug them, but Im running out of fingers," Johnson said. NOTES: Nats LF Bryce Harper started running in after catching the second out in the eighth inning before realizing his mistake. He smiled and took some verbal abuse from the remaining fans. ... Denard Span extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games with a third-inning single. ... Phillies LHP Mauricio Robles made his major league debut, allowing two unearned runs in an inning. ... The Nationals selected SS Zach Walters and recalled Brown, LHP Xavier Cedeno, INF/OF Jeff Kobernus and OF Eury Perez from Triple-A Syracuse. ... Jordan Zimmermann (15-8) opposes Roy Halladay (3-4) when the teams finish the series Wednesday. NEW YORK, N.Y. - Minnesota Vikings safety Antone Exum has been fined $22,050 by the NFL for an illegal blindside block against the Green Bay Packers last week. Exum was penalized for hitting the Packers Jarrett Bush during a punt return in the second quarter of the Thursday night game of Oct. 2. Tampa Bay wide receiver Louis Murphy was docked $11,025 on Friday for using abusive language toward an opponent after the Buccaneers scored a touchdown in a 37-31 loss to the New Orleans Saints last weekend.dddddddddddd Seattle right tackle Justin Britt was fined $8,268 for a late hit against Washingtons Bashaud Breeland, while Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin was fined $5,512 for wearing white cleats while the rest of the team wore black a€” a violation of league uniform rules. ' ' '