Washington ? The Washington Nationals went out and traded for Preston Wilson. That didn’t quite work. They juggled their lineup. Didn’t work, either.

Manager Frank Robinson gathered his players after a loss and read them some unflattering words used by the media to describe the club’s tailspin. That attempt at motivation flopped. So did reliever Joey Eischen’s idea of handing out camouflage caps before Friday night’s game.

Nothing seems to be able to snap the Nationals out of their slide right now, and facing Roger Clemens was probably the last thing they needed.

Clemens matched his season high with 10 strikeouts over six shutout innings, and Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane and Mike Lamb each drove in three runs to lead Houston past Washington, 14-1, the Nationals’ 12th loss in 16 games.

“You don’t like to be embarrassed like that, no matter where you are, especially at home,” Robinson said. “We’ve got to do something to get this ballclub back in the win column, No. 1, and in the winning mode. We’re not in a winning mode right now.”

Washington entered the day tied with Atlanta for first place in the NL East. The Nationals led by 51â2 games July 3, but their lead has vanished, along with their offense.

“It’s kind of embarrassing. We’ve been on the opposite end of the spectrum, where we can’t lose a ballgame,” outfielder Ryan Church said. “Now we can’t win a ballgame.”

Houston's Roger Clemens delivers against Washington. Clemens allowed three hits and struck out 10 in six shutout innings, and the Astros defeated the Nationals, 14-1, Friday night in Washington.

Washington has scored 30 runs in its last 11 games, a 2.7 average. So it seemed almost unfair that the Nationals had to take on a seven-time Cy Young Award winner.

D’backs 6, Braves 5, 10 innings

Phoenix – Alex Cintron homered leading off the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Arizona over Atlanta. Cintron hit the third pitch from reliever Jim Brower (3-3) into the right-field bullpen.

Cardinals 2, Cubs 1, 11 innings

St. Louis – David Eckstein’s 11th-inning squeeze bunt, his second game-winning squeeze this month, sent St. Louis past Chicago. Pinch-hitter John Mabry led off the 11th with a triple, the fifth of his career and first since Aug. 3, 2002, off Sergio Mitre (2-5). With one out, Eckstein dropped a perfect bunt in front of the plate on a 1-1 count as pinch-runner Hector Luna scored without a play.

Giants 8, Marlins 5

San Francisco – Pedro Feliz homered for the third straight game and drove in three runs, and Edgardo Alfonzo and Ray Durham each had two RBIs to lead San Francisco over Florida. Local product Dontrelle Willis suffered through yet another embarrassing loss in San Francisco as the Marlins lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games.

Willis (13-6), who grew up in nearby Alameda, dropped to 0-2 in four career starts against the Giants.

Dodgers 6, Mets 5

New York – Jeff Kent homered, doubled and singled, and Los Angeles held off New York for its third consecutive victory. Jayson Werth drove in two runs as the Dodgers built a 6-0 lead for Jeff Weaver, who helped himself with an RBI single and won for only the second time in eight starts. By winning three games in a row for the first time since June 4-6, Los Angeles gave manager Jim Tracy his 400th career victory.

Rockies 5, Pirates 3, 10 innings

Pittsburgh – Colorado’s Todd Helton hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the 10th inning off Jose Mesa after Pittsburgh had tied it in the ninth. Aaron Miles singled off Mesa (1-6) with one out ahead of Helton’s drive into the right-field seats, which gave Colorado its first extra-inning victory in four attempts this season. David Cortes then pitched the 10th for his first career save, despite allowing singles by Jose Castillo and Humberto Cota.

Reds 11, Brewers 6

Cincinnati – Ken Griffey Jr. tied Mickey Mantle on the career RBI list, and Adam Dunn drove in three runs with two homers, leading Cincinnati past Milwaukee.

A blown transformer caused a power outage in the top of the seventh inning, leaving only security lights working at the ballpark. The game resumed after a 25-minute delay.

The Reds’ third straight victory matched their season high and left them 6-2 since the All-Star break.

Phillies 8, Padres 6, 11 innings

Philadelphia – Chase Utley hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Philadelphia past San Diego. Ryan Howard homered and drove in three runs for the Phillies, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Mark Loretta and Brian Giles hit consecutive homers, and Geoff Blum had three hits, including a homer, for the Padres.