WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez had consecutive RBI hits in the ninth inning off Nationals closer Tyler Clippard and the Milwaukee Brewers extended their season-high winning streak to six games with a 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
The victory combined with a St. Louis loss moved the Brewers within 1 1-2 games of the Cardinals for the final wild card berth in the National League.
Held to one run over eight innings against Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, the Brewers scored three against Clippard (2-6). Norichika Aoki led off with bunt single, took second on a passed ball by catcher Jesus Flores and moved to third on Rickie Weeks' fly ball out.
Braun followed with a single to left, scoring Aoki. He then stole second and came around to score the go-ahead run on Ramirez's double to left. Ramirez scored on Travis Ishikawa's infield single.
Jose Veras (5-4) worked one inning in relief and John Axford pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.