HOUSTON -- After hitting just . Jose Quintana Jersey .136 last April, the Washington Nationals are certainly enjoying the way Adam LaRoche has started this season. LaRoche continued his hot start Tuesday night, hitting a tying double in the eighth inning and a go-ahead single in the ninth to lift the Nationals over the Houston Astros 4-3. "Its good for him because hes not traditionally a fast starter," manager Matt Williams said. "He really focused on it in spring training and really focused on driving one in. Hes going to hit homers with guys on base but that ones big for us as evidenced tonight. If he can do that the homers will come ... but when he can consistently drive runs in like that were a better team." Jayson Werth homered as the Nationals won the opener of the interleague series. Denard Span drew a leadoff walk in the ninth, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. He scored on LaRoches hit to right field off Josh Fields (0-3). "When Im feeling pretty good, one, Im taking some walks and two, Im using the whole field," LaRoche said. LaRoche is hitting .312 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and 16 walks in 2014. Tyler Clippard (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win. Rafael Soriano walked two in a scoreless ninth for his fifth save. Werth hit fourth home run in the first inning. Houston scored three times in the third for a 3-2 lead, helped by rookie George Springers two-run single. Houston manager Bo Porter was troubled that his team let another one get away late. "Its very concerning, because our starting pitcher did a very good job," he said. "You feel like you are in position to win the game, you have the right guys matched up, and you just dont get it done." Werth singled to start the eighth and scored on LaRoches double to left-centre field. Center fielder Dexter Fowler tracked the ball to the wall, but it glanced off his glove as he crashed to the ground. The Nationals went on to load the bases before Chad Qualls struck out Jose Lobaton. Washington starter Gio Gonzalez allowed five hits and three runs, striking out a season-high nine in six innings. Houstons Jarred Cosart gave up five hits, two runs and struck out six in six innings in his first career start against an NL team. Cosart hit Kevin Frandsen with a pitch to start the third inning and he scored on a double by Lobaton to make it 2-0. Houstons first hit was a double by Matt Dominguez to open the third and he moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Villar. Fowlers two-out single cut Washingtons lead to 2-1 and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Jason Castro reached on a double when the ball bounced off the padding on the wall in left field -- Frandsen saved a run when he made a nifty no-look, backhanded stop on the carom. He said he simply got lucky on the play and shared what he told his teammates when they asked how he did it. "You stick your glove out and maybe some things go in there," he said with a laugh. Springers single on a line drive to left field put Houston ahead. The Nationals had another good defensive play when Span ran up Tals Hill in centre field and landed on his backside as he caught a fly ball hit by Dominguez for the second out of the fourth inning. NOTES: These teams wrap up the two-game series on Wednesday when Houston LHP Brett Oberholtzer opposes RHP Jordan Zimmermann. ... Washington OF Bryce Harper had surgery on his injured left thumb on Tuesday and will be out for an extended period of time. Harper was injured on Friday night against San Diego on a headfirst slide into third base on a triple. ... Houston RHP Scott Feldman, on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 18 with right biceps tendinitis, said he felt good after throwing 35 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday. He is eligible to come off the DL on May 3. Koji Uehara Jersey . They started shooting the puck. Joe Pavelski had a hat trick to move into a tie for second in the NHL in goals and the Sharks beat Philadelphia 7-3 Thursday night in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. Albert Almora Jr Jersey . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break. http://www.cubsteamproshop.com/customized/ .com) - Coming off a pair of tough losses last week, the Syracuse Orange will try to put an end to their first losing skid of the season when they pay a visit to the Maryland Terrapins at the Comcast Center on Monday night in Atlantic Coast Conference action.Guillem Balague says the decision for Neymar to play for Brazil in the Olympics rather than Copa America gives him a much-needed rest. Barcelona announced on Wednesday night that the Brazil captain will play at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for his country but will skip the Copa America, despite previously stating he wanted to play in both.The Brazilian FA had asked for his release, but Barcelona did not want to lose the striker for so long and feared that his participation in both events could affect his preparations for next season. Barcelona announced on Wednesday that Neymar will play at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics The confederation and the club had been in talks for several months before finally reaching a deal, and Sky Sports Spanish football expert Balague believes the move is good PR for the Brazilian forward at present.The reaction in Barcelona is that most people believed Neymar was not going to rest enough. Weve seen Neymar take some trips to Brazil, not just to do with football, and theres a lot of negative publicity in the direction of Neymar, so this is a good PR for himself in the eyes of the fans. The Olympics will be played from August 3-21, while the Copa America runs from June 3-26 I think most fans understand he needs to rest, as rest is as important for an athlete than preparation.In contrast, in Brazil there are more and more voices saying he is not a mature leader and is not pulling all of his weight when it comes to the national side. Its not a Brazilian decision, Brazil want him playing everything, its more the decision of Barcelona. Neymar of course wanted to play everything, but Barcelona made him realise he had to make a choice. Pep Guardiola and Barcelona won the right to restrict Lionel Messi from going to the Olympics in 2008, but let him go anyway It is a different kind of summer with Olympics and Copa America - I think Barcelona have used the timing cleverly, its a good moment to confirm publicly what they have been defending for months.Clubs are not obliged by FIFA to release players for the Olympics, but had to do so for the Copa America Centenario in the United States, but a deal has been struck to ensure Neymar is exempt.Neymar has come under criticism from fans and the media of latee as Barcelona slumped to just one point from a possible 12 and were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid. Carlos Zambrano Jersey. Neymar to miss Copa America Neymar will play for Brazil at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics but will skip the Copa America They reacted with an 8-0 win at Deportivo on Wednesday, leaving them level on points with Atletico at the top of the table but with a better head-to-head record.Balague believes the 24-year-old will need the summer to recover from another busy season, and also says this is not the first time the club has been successful over the country in such a discussion.Clubs have always had the power to stop players playing, Balague added. I remember when Pep Guardiola arrived at Barcelona, Lionel Messi wanted to play the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and Barca managed to convince the authorities that he wouldnt play. A look at some of Neymars best moments in a Barcelona shirt this season. Then after that it became the choice of Pep, who said to Messi and [then-president] Joan Laporta that he should go to China, because it was the best thing that could happen to him.Messi was saying he wanted an Olympic medal, because it is something unique. He let him go that way, Argentina won the gold, but Barcelona had initially won the right not to let him go, so its not the first time thing has happened.The Olympics will be played from August 3-21, while the Copa America runs from June 3-26 Also See: Neymar to miss Copa Barca hit eight past Deportivo Neymar will not be sold More Guillem Balague Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Discount NFL Jerseys ' ' '