Ramon Ortiz dashed around third base, barely slowing down once the ball skipped away.
The Devil Rays never had a chance to catch the speedy Ortiz, who completed a rare feat for a pitcher by scoring from second on a wild pitch.
“It was an easy score,” he said.
Tampa had an even tougher time with him on the mound. Ortiz, winless since June 8, pitched an efficient game to help Washington (35-48) beat Tampa Bay, 6-2. The Nats had dropped three straight series. Ortiz (6-6) had lost two of his last three decisions and was battered around for a no-decision in the other.
“I never put my head down,” Ortiz said. “I know early in the year I didn’t pitch well, but I competed. I know I can win games.”
Ortiz scored his run in the sixth amidst a comedy of errors by Tampa Bay (35-47). He came home after Marlon Anderson scored on a wild pitch; the return throw home got away from the pitcher covering. But it was Ortiz’s pitching that made the difference.
“That was his smoothest outing,” manager Frank Robinson said. “[He was] in complete control.”
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman got the offense started by hitting a two-run homer in a three-run the first inning and the Nats never trailed.
