TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Mitchell Parker pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief and Dylan Crews broke a tie with a solo home run in the ninth inning as the Washington Nationals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Saturday evening before 20,996 at George Steinbrenner Field.

The Nationals rallied to win for the fourth time in their past six games, improving to 40-37. The Rays fell to 42-31 after dropping their fourth straight contest.

Washington scored two runs in the second inning and one in the fifth to build a 3-1 lead, but the Rays tied the game in the bottom of the ninth before the Nationals regained the advantage on Crews’ homer. Clayton Beeter allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run on base to earn his fifth save.

Crews, who started in right field and moved to center later, went 2 for 4 with a home run and one RBI. His solo shot off Tampa Bay reliever Cam Booser in the top of the ninth proved decisive.

Brad Lord was the top star for Washington. The right-hander tossed three innings of two-hit relief, striking out five without allowing a run. Lord’s outing lowered his season ERA and continued a strong stretch: he had earned wins in each of his previous three appearances, including a three-inning, two-hit, two-strikeout performance against Kansas City on June 15.

Parker (3-3) earned the victory with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball, striking out two. He entered in the sixth inning and retired seven of the eight batters he faced.

Ian Seymour (3-1) took the loss for Tampa Bay. The left-hander allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings, striking out four and walking none.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the first inning. Yandy Díaz led off with a single and Jonathan Aranda followed with a single. Cedric Mullins bunted for a single to load the bases. Junior Caminero lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Díaz and giving the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Washington answered in the second. CJ Abrams led off with a home run to right-center, his 16th of the season, tying the game 1-1. Dylan Crews singled, Daylen Lile was hit by a pitch, and after a flyout, Nasim Nuñez doubled to left-center, scoring Crews. Lile advanced to third on the play, but Keibert Ruiz struck out and James Wood flied out to end the inning with the Nationals ahead 2-1.

The Nationals extended the lead in the fifth. Ruiz singled and James Wood doubled to put runners at second and third. Curtis Mead struck out. Andrés Chaparro grounded out to first, allowing Ruiz to score and making it 3-1.

Tampa Bay trimmed the deficit in the third. Caminero singled, Richie Palacios walked, and Chandler Simpson singled to center, scoring Caminero and cutting the lead to 3-2.

Both bullpens traded scoreless innings until the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, Crews led off with a home run to center field off Booser, giving Washington a 4-2 lead. The Nationals added two more singles but left the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the ninth, Taylor Walls walked, Díaz singled to left, and Walls scored on the play to make it 4-3. Aranda flied out, Mullins struck out, and Beeter intentionally walked Caminero to load the bases. Ben Williamson struck out looking to end the game.

Washington pitchers combined for 13 strikes, 43 balls, and 13 balls in play. Tampa Bay pitchers combined for 12 strikes, 50 balls, and 12 balls in play. The Rays grounded into two double plays.

The game lasted 2 hours, 58 minutes.

The Nationals and Rays play again Sunday in the final game of the series. Washington returns home Monday to face Philadelphia, while Tampa Bay hosts Kansas City on Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Washington 6, Tampa Bay 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Tampa Bay a 58.30 percent probability to win. Washington was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 7 went over the over/under line of 8.5.