Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Elijah Dukes had his first career five-hit game, tied the contest with a homer in the ninth inning and won it with an RBI single in the 14th as the Washington Nationals edged the Texas Rangers, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game interleague series at Nationals Park.

With one out in the ninth, Texas reliever Jamey Wright plunked Felipe Lopez, then walked pinch-hitter Paul Lo Duca and Ryan Langerhans to load the bases. After Cristian Guzman struck out, Dukes rolled a ground ball past Michael Young at short to plate the deciding run.

"(Dukes) was a one-man show tonight," said Nationals manager Manny Acta. " He showed his abilities at defense and swinging the bat."

Five relievers combined on eight scoreless, one-hit innings for the Nats, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Joel Hanrahan (3-2) shut out Texas over the final two frames to pick up the win, while starter Tim Redding didn't factor in the decision after allowing three runs on five hits over six innings.

Jesus Flores went 3-for-6 and drove in the other two runs for Washington.

Ian Kinsler's three-run double provided the scoring for the Rangers, who have dropped two of three. Wright (4-3) took the loss in relief of Kevin Millwood, who allowed just three runs on seven hits in eight innings.

Texas catcher Gerald Laird left with a right hamstring injury in the fourth inning. Laird beat out a bunt single, but stumbled badly crossing the bag and had to be helped off the field. After his hit, Washington pitching retired 21 straight batters before Frank Catalanotto's single in the 11th.

Marlon Byrd singled to start the top of the second, and one out later, Laird launched a double off the wall in left. But, Byrd hesitated coming around third base and was tagged out before he could score. Ramon Vazquez was intentionally walked to get to Millwood, but Redding walked his opposing number to load the bases. Kinsler immediately cleared the bases, crushing a double to right to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead.

Washington pulled within one in the third, loading the bases on a single by Dukes and walks to Lastings Milledge and Dmitri Young before Flores flipped a two-run single to right. Millwood settled down from there, holding Washington scoreless through the next four innings.

But, Millwood couldn't hold the lead in the eighth, as Dukes belted his first pitch of the inning, a hanging curveball, just over the wall in left to tie the game at 3-3.

"I am just basically trying to drive the ball and try not to press for the home runs, just let it come," Dukes said. "I just want to keep doing what I'm doing and not go for home runs and get that average up."

Neither team could forge ahead through the ninth, and the game headed to extra frames. Rangers reliever Josh Rupe and Nats righty Saul Rivera dueled through three scoreless innings, with Hanrahan tossing a scoreless 13th for Washington and Joaquin Benoit matching him for the Rangers.