WASHINGTON -- Victor Martinez had four hits and scored two runs and Nick Castellanos hit a home run for the second night in a row.

But it was a defensive play that may be lost in the box score that paved the way for the Detroit Tigers to beat the Washington Nationals 5-4 on Tuesday, ending a seven-game losing streak for the visitors.

Wilson Ramos of the Nationals was thrown out at the plate on a relay from center fielder Anthony Gose to shortstop Andrew Romaine to catcher James McCann to end the eighth inning as the Tigers kept the lead at 5-4. Pinch-hitter Clint Robinson doubled to left-center as Ramos tried to score from first.

"That was an outstanding relay," said Brad Ausmus, the Detroit manager. "Picture perfect."

Detroit had been outscored 48-20 during its slide.

"A sigh of relief to get that behind you," Ausmus said.

The relay was one of several strong defensive plays by Romine.

"He's a legitimate shortstop. He is an exceptional good defender," Ausmus said.

The win overshadowed a two-homer game for Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, whose solo shot with two outs in the seventh cut the margin to 5-4 off reliever Drew VerHagen.

"It is good to get hits and drive in runs," said Zimmerman, who entered the game with a batting average of .227 and one homer. "You have to keep going out there and things will eventually turn."

Justin Wilson of the Tigers came on to retire Daniel Murphy for the last out of the seventh.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his eighth save as he retired Murphy for the final out with two runners on base. He intentionally walked Bryce Harper and struck out Zimmerman before retiring Murphy.

The Tigers scored three runs in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. James McCann had an RBI single, Andrew Romine drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice and pinch-hitter Miguel Cabrera had a single to drive in the third run of the frame.

Detroit starter Michael Fulmer (2-1) went five innings and allowed seven hits and three runs. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Cabrera in the top of the sixth.

Washington starter Joe Ross (3-2), who entered the game with an ERA of 1.23, allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings. Murphy, Anthony Rendon and Ramos also had two hits for the Nationals.

Zimmerman, after a two-out walk to Harper, hit a two-run homer to give Washington a 3-2 lead in the fifth off Fulmer. It was the second homer of the year and first since April 19 for Zimmerman, who left 14 runners on base in Chicago on Sunday against the Cubs as Harper walked six times.

"You just have to grind it out. I was swinging at better pitches," Zimmerman said. "You just have to keep going. In the end it was a tough game. I wish we could have won it. We battled back."

The Tigers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Castellanos hit a two-run homer off Ross. His seventh homer of the year scored Martinez, who led off the inning with his second straight single.

Danny Espinosa had a one-out, bases loaded single to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the second. Fulmer escaped more damage when he struck out pitcher Ross and got Ben Revere to ground out to end the frame.

NOTES: The Nationals announced before the game that they signed RHP Stephen Strasburg to a seven-year contract extension, with reports placing the deal at around $175 million. The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2009 out of San Diego State, Strasburg was set to become a free agent after this year. He is 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts this year. "The city of D.C. has really grown on my family," Strasburg said Tuesday. "It was something that happened over time. They took care of me, not just as a pitcher but as a person. It seems like a great fit for me and my family. We are very excited to be here for some time." ... Detroit RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-1, 1.10 ERA), who leads the American League in ERA, will face his former team Wednesday when he goes up against Washington RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 4.60), who played for the Tigers from 2010 to 2014. ... Playing in a National League park, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus gave 1B Miguel Cabrera the night off Tuesday with 1B Victor Martinez and 3B Nick Castellanos in the starting lineup. Martinez was not in the starting lineup Monday and Ausmus plans to give Castellanos the night off Wednesday. Ausmus said Cabrera was fine after he jammed a knee sliding into second on Monday in the eighth inning. ... Washington 2B Daniel Murphy entered Tuesday as the National League leader in hitting at .398 and Castellanos was tops in the American League at .380.