WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Nationals won their ninth straight game when pinch-hitter Anthony Rendon singled home Bryce Harper in the ninth inning Wednesday night for a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Harper opened the ninth with a single off Evan Marshall (4-3) and went to third base on Kevin Frandsen's one-out single. Out of the starting lineup for the first time in 63 games, Rendon singled past third baseman Cliff Pennington to win it.
 
Nats win 9th in row on Rendon's walk-off pinch-hit single
 
Five of Washington's last six victories have been by a single run, with four coming in its last at-bat. The Nationals last won nine in a row when they matched a franchise record by winning 10 straight in June 2005.
The NL East leaders also extended their home win streak to eight and opened up a seven-game lead over Atlanta.
Rafael Soriano (3-1) pitched the ninth.
Arizona has lost five straight and is 5-13 in August.
Tanner Roark threw seven scoreless innings for the Nationals and left with a 2-0 lead. He gave up five hits.
The Diamondbacks tied it in the eighth on Ender Inclarte's two-run homer against reliever Tyler Clippard.
Arizona starter Trevor Cahill allowed two runs and six hits over 6 1-3 innings.
Wilson Ramos' RBI groundout in the second inning gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Asdrubal Cabrera and Jayson Werth hit consecutive doubles to put Washington up 2-0 in the sixth.
Harper had three of Washington's nine hits.
 

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