Washington, DC (Best E Casino) - Jesus Flores' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth pushed Washington past the Los Angeles Angels, 5-4, in the finale of a three-game interleague series.

Against Scot Shields (3-2), Elijah Dukes started the ninth with a single. He advanced to second on a Lastings Milledge ground out, then scored the game- deciding run when Flores drilled a ball to the gap in right-center.

Milledge hit a two-run home run and scored a pair of runs for the Nationals, who salvaged a game in the set and snapped a four-game losing skid. Ronnie Belliard and Wily Mo Pena also drove in a run each.

Despite allowing the Angels' tying run in the eighth, Jon Rauch (4-1) earned the win. Starter Tim Redding allowed seven hits and two runs over six full frames.

Casey Kotchman went 2-for-4 and knocked in two for the Angels, whose five-game win streak was halted. Howie Kendrick and Gary Matthews Jr. added RBI in the loss. Ervin Santana gave up four runs and four hits over six innings, striking out eight but walking five in the no-decision.

Milledge's two-run blast in the home first gave the Nats the early edge, but the Angels came back with single runs in the next two frames to knot the game.

Torii Hunter singled to begin the second and scored on Matthews' double three batters later. Erick Aybar's one-out single in the third turned into the tying run as Kotchman singled to right.

Washington picked up a pair of runs in the sixth. The Nats loaded the bases thanks to a leadoff walk to Dukes, a Milledge single and an intentional pass to Dmitri Young. Santana's control faltered once more in a walk to Belliard which forced in a run and Pena followed with a run-scoring single.

However, Willie Harris popped out and pinch-hitter Kory Casto fanned to prevent further damage.

The Angels countered with two in the eighth as Kotchman sliced an RBI double off Luis Ayala and Kendrick added a sacrifice fly facing Rauch.

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Los Angeles has won five of the nine all-time meetings, including four of six on the home diamond of the Expos/Nationals franchise...Santana threw 101 pitches, 68 for strikes while Redding threw 84 pitches, 54 for strikes...Washington's Aaron Boone became the fourth member of his family to get 1,000 hits in the majors. He had an infield single in the eighth inning. Boone's grandfather Ray, father Bob and brother Bret all have reached the mark.