WASHINGTON (AP) - Shoddy defense ended Washington's eight-game winning streak.

The Nationals tied a season high with three errors and the Baltimore Orioles took advantage Sunday, halting Washington's longest winning streak since June 2005 with a 7-4 victory.

Second baseman Danny Espinosa made an error in the ninth inning Thursday, snapping a franchise-record streak of 130 2-3 innings without a miscue. But by Sunday, that run was long forgotten.

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``We know we were sloppy today, and that's the reason we lost,' Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. ``You don't deserve to win games when you play like that.'

In his first start since May 23, Tom Gorzelanny (2-5) allowed five runs - four earned - in 4 2-3 innings. He gave up 10 hits.

Gorzelanny had been on the disabled list with inflammation in his left elbow, and wasn't very effective.

``I had a lot of energy out there. I was leaving balls up,' he said. ``I went back and looked at everything and saw that every ball that was hit was about waist-high. You can't be successful throwing pitchers like that. I've got to make an adjustment.'

While Gorzelanny was on the DL, Washington used Yunesky Maya in his place. With an 0-1 record and a 6.86 ERA in four starts, Maya was sent back to the minors on Thursday.

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman was hoping for better from his veteran left-hander.

``He normally strikes people out. He didn't have that going for him today, so he was going to have to get a double play or get a ball hit at somebody because he didn't have his strikeout stuff,' Riggleman said.

Mark Reynolds had three hits, including a home run, for the Orioles. J.J. Hardy also homered and Craig Tatum drove in two runs to back starter Chris Jakubauskas (2-0), who pitched five innings and got his first two major league hits. He allowed three runs and six hits, striking out six and walking one.

Jim Johnson worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Koji Uehara pitched two innings and allowed a run.

``It's been a good stretch,' Riggleman said. ``We put things together there for a couple of weeks and continued to play good.'

Baltimore's Derrek Lee had two more hits to finish 9 for 13 in the three-games series. He went 5 for 5 on Friday and had hits in his first two at_bats Saturday.

The Orioles, who had lost six of seven, scored their most runs since putting up nine on May 25.

Baltimore and Washington split six games this season.

``It was a big win for us,' Lee said. ``Now we have a chance to go to Pittsburgh and kind of turn it around. We've lost two series on this trip, and now if we go up there and get this series, it makes it not such a bad trip.'

Lee scored Baltimore's first run in the second when Tatum bounced into a double play.

In the third, Hardy hit a long shot to center off Gorzelanny that landed on the grass beyond the wall. That made it 2-0.

Reynolds doubled with one out in the fourth and scored on Tatum's single for a 3-0 lead.

The Nationals scored two runs in the fourth off Jakubauskas on back-to-back RBI doubles by Michael Morse and Espinosa.

In the fifth, the Orioles scored two more off Gorzelanny on an RBI single by Adam Jones and a run-scoring double by Lee. Jakubauskas led off the inning with a single - his first major league hit - but was thrown out when he tried to score on Hardy's double. He added his second single with two outs in the sixth.

Roger Bernadina, who had three hits, homered in the fifth to cut Baltimore's lead to 5-3.

Reynolds made it 6-3 on his 13th home run of the year off Todd Coffey leading off the sixth.

``We made errors in the first two games and they took advantage, and we took advantage today,' Reynolds said. ``Anytime a team gives you extra outs, it's tough to win. Today, we took advantage of it and we were able to score some runs.'

Tatum's sacrifice fly in the eighth gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead.

Espinosa's 13th home run of the season in the ninth made it 7-4.

NOTES: To make room for Gorzelanny, the Nationals placed OF Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list with a strain of his left intercostal. ... Baltimore OF Luke Scott missed the game with back spasms. ... Orioles 2B Brian Roberts, on the DL since May 17 with a concussion, will meet the team in Pittsburgh on Monday and be re-evaluated Tuesday. ... Jones recorded his eighth outfield assist - best in the major leagues - when he threw out Zimmerman at second base in the first inning. ... Orioles RF Nick Markakis has hit in 10 straight games. ... The Nationals tied a season high with four double plays.