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WASHINGTON -- At some point in mid-June, Jayson Werth decided to stop listening to everyone who told him to swing at the first pitch and be more aggressive.The result is a 40-game on-base streak that has Werth setting the table for the Washington Nationals potent offense. On Wednesday, Werth got on base and drove in runs himself with a homer while the Nationals beat the Cleveland Indians 7-4.Werth hit a three-run homer off Josh Tomlin in the second inning but takes more pride in getting on base than anything else.Im an on-base guy that can drive in runs, said Werth, who was 2 for 3 with a ground-rule double and a walk. I think Ive silenced all those people that have told me over the years that thats the way I should hit. Just getting back to being myself. I think thats what it comes down to.Werth spearheaded an offensive outburst for the Nationals, who had scored three runs in their previous three games combined. Anthony Rendon also went 2 for 4 with a two-run double and Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos each had an RBI.It was even better that we scored some runs and our offense came alive to put us in that position, manager Dusty Baker said. We had some guys have some good days.It wasnt the best day for starter Gio Gonzalez (8-9), who allowed four runs and seven hits, including a two-run home run by Francisco Lindor, and struck out five in five-plus innings. But Gonzalez got plenty of run support, and reliever Matt Belisle bailed him out by inducing a double play in the sixth and getting out of the inning unscathed.Cleveland got three hits from Jose Ramirez, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games, but Tomlin (11-5) failed to get through the fifth inning for the second consecutive start. Tomlin allowed seven runs and eight hits and struck out four in four-plus innings.I make a mistake, I pay for it, Tomlin said. Doing that against a team like that, its tough to come back from.The Nationals are an imposing team even without reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper, but Baker said the recent futility was a little bit past a blip. Hed rather see struggles now than in September.But Werth is doing anything but struggling. He has just 13 RBI over his 40-game streak -- which is three short of Ryan Zimmermans Nationals record -- but has 30 walks in that time.His mix of patience and power is what Washington needs from him now and down the stretch.Hes been around long enough to understand how to do almost anything in the order, Baker said. Hes a veteran. He struggled early. Glad to see him come to life.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: Manager Terry Francona returned after a health scare caused him to miss the series opener Tuesday. Francona, who has a history of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms, complained of chest pain and had an elevated heart rate but reported feeling better by Wednesday. ... Francona said RHP Tommy Hunter threw a simulated game Tuesday and was progressing well from a non-baseball injury.Nationals: Harper missed his third consecutive game with a stiff neck. Baker said Harpers neck was in a spasm and medical personnel hadnt yet figured out how to alleviate it. ... LHP Oliver Perez felt a pull in his back before throwing his first pitch but stayed in the game. Baker said he was being evaluated.GOODWIN BREAKS THROUGHNationals outfielder Brian Goodwin made his first major league start and got his first hit with a single off Zach McAllister in the eighth. Fans gave him a standing ovation, giving backup catcher Pedro Severino a good laugh from the rail of the home dugout.Seeing some good pitches and putting some good swings on balls, Goodwin said. Finally seeing one go through was kind of like a relief for me.UNCLE CARRASCOIndians pitcher Carlos Carrasco passed his U.S. citizenship test last week, which was cause for celebration. Carrasco wore an Uncle Sam costume for the flight back to Cleveland, posing with thumbs up for the teams Twitter account .UP NEXTIndians: RHP Corey Kluber (11-8, 3.22 ERA) starts the series opener back in Cleveland against RHP Jhoulys Chacin (3-7, 5.27) and the Los Angeles Angels.Nationals: After a day off, RHP Stephen Strasburg (15-2, 2.80) starts Friday against RHP Mike Foltynewicz (5-5, 4.37) and the last-place Atlanta Braves. Curley Culp Youth Jersey . JOHNS, N. Amani Hooker Youth Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-17-Ryan-Tannehill-Womens-Jersey/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Corey Davis Jersey .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Nate Davis Youth Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady had just finished his postgame press conference Sunday when he turned to his right, stepped off the podium and was greeted a familiar grin and outstretched hand waiting on him.A few seconds later, Rob Gronkowski grasped his quarterbacks hand and pulled him in for an embrace.Good job, man, Gronk said as Brady patted his sure-handed tight end on the back.It was a moment that has been a long time coming for the New England Patriots.In many ways the first month of this season has felt like a trip down the rabbit hole for the Patriots offense with Brady sitting out the first four-games to serve his Deflategate suspension, and Gronk taking a mostly secondary role as he worked his way back from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for the first two games.While Brady dazzled in his season debut last week, Sundays 35-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals showcased both him and Gronkowski in a way reminiscent of some of their best previous performances together.For New England it also comes at the perfect time as it prepare for back-to-back road games, first at AFC North-leading Pittsburgh and then Buffalo, which shutout New England 16-0 on Oct. 2.Its good to be 5-1, Brady said. I think were at a decent place, so weve just got to keep stringing these things together. Theres a ton of football left.Meanwhile the Bengals are heading in exactly the opposite direction. Cincinnati is 2-4 for the first time since 2010, when it finished 4-12 -- its worst season under coach Marvin Lewis.Cincinnati has a good shot at getting things back on track next week when they host winless Cleveland. But the reprieve is short-lived with a game in London against 4-2 Washington the following week.We have a lot of season left and weve got to get back on track this week, quarterback Andy Dalton said. Weve got to take this thing and try to get to 3-4 and then well move from there.SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS: One thing that continues to hold the Bengals back is untimely penalties. They had just seven for 46 yards Sunday, but had a costly one that set up the Patriots first touchdown of the day.New England was facing three-and-out after Cincinnatis Vontaze Burfict sacked Brady for an 8-yard loss on second down, and Brady threw an incomplete pass on third down. But Dre Kirkpatrick was called for an illegal contact penalty, which kept the drive alive. The Patriots then marched 78 plays overr next six plays and scored on a 15-yard pass from Brady to James White.ddddddddddddWhether it be a penalty that sets us back, or more importantly a penalty on defense, whatever it is, Lewis said. You know, its key to a football game. Weve got to do a better job.FAITH IN DALTON: One thing that isnt the culprit in the Bengals problems isnt Dalton, Lewis said.Dalton finished 21 of 31 for 254 yards and a touchdown, with a 103.4 rating. The task going forward is making his life easier in the pocket, he said.What we are doing offensively, Andy is doing a good job taking care of the football, but we have got to start maximizing those possessions, all the time, without him getting in the panic mode, Lewis said.GRONK MAD: The Patriots picked up two personal fouls late in the game as the game got chippy.Gronkowski got called for taunting after a 12-yard catch that would have put New England on the Bengals 8 with about eight minutes left. The Patriots tight end said he didnt say anything -- he was just bobbing his head.The penalty pushed them back to the 23, and they settled for a field goal that made it 28-17.I cant be letting that happen, Gronkowski said. Its a good thing that it didnt hurt the team in this situation. I mean, we got the win, but down the road it can always hurt the team getting a personal foul.At the end of the game, running back LeGarrette Blount was called for unnecessary roughness after scoring on a 1-yard run.Weve got guys who dont back down from anyone and play hard throughout the whole game, tight end Martellus Bennett said. Were not looking for trouble, but we dont walk away from trouble, either.KICKING IT: New Englands Stephen Gostkowski has been unusually inconsistent after a decade as one of the most automatic kickers in the league. The Patriots placekicker missed an extra point on Sunday, ending a streak of 478 in a row dating back to his rookie season of 2006.After three straight years of converting more than 90 percent of his field goals, Gostkowski is down to 75 percent this year. He converted on kicks of 46 and 31 yards on Sunday.---AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen contributed to this report.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower ' ' '