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WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals attempts to jump-start their season have so far been false starts. Perhaps, on the Fourth of July, the return of Wilson Ramos and an "epiphany" change in the batting order provided the final pieces that can sustain some momentum. Back after missing 44 games with a strained left hamstring, Ramos hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning Thursday, leading the Nationals to an 8-5 matinee win over the Milwaukee Brewers. "Hes a statement player," shortstop Ian Desmond said. "And definitely somebody whos waiting for his turn in the spotlight." Ramos put a 1-0 slider from Brandon Kintzler into the left-field stands and received a curtain call. He finished with three hits and a career-high five RBIs. "Im excited, happy for this day, for me, for my family, for my team," Ramos said. "They were waiting for me for my return, and Im happy for this day, and hopefully I will help the team to win a lot of games." The Nationals earned a split of the four-game series and moved back above .500 in their seesaw season. Theyve already had plenty of emotional wins this year that might have sparked a chase at the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East, but each time theyve fallen flat within a few days. Getting desperate to try anything, manager Davey Johnson joked before the game that he was "going crazy" figuring out how to get the bats going and said he was "having a problem" with his Ouija board. He decided to flip-flop Desmond and Jayson Werth, batting Desmond second and Werth sixth. Asked why, he said: "I dont know. Because Im supposed to do something. I had an epiphany last night about 9:30 and I called Desi, and I said, Desi, Im changing something." For at least one day, it was managerial genius. Desmond had three hits, stole two bases and scored two runs and ignited two scoring rallies. Werth had three hits, an RBI and scored twice. "Yeah, that came out all right," Johnson said after the game. "You know, once in a while I have a great idea." Taylor Jordan allowed two runs over 5 2-3 innings in his second major league start, and Drew Storen (3-2) got the win despite blowing a 5-2 lead by allowing two home runs in the seventh inning. Ramos and the Nationals quickly bailed out Storen with a two-out rally. Werth singled off Tom Gorzelanny (1-1). Brewers manager Ron Roenicke then brought in Brandon Kintzler to face Anthony Rendon in a righty-righty matchup. The move backfired. Kintzler walked Rendon and gave up the homer to Ramos. "Just hung a slider," Kintzler said. "What are you going to do? Itll not be the last slider I hang, either. I just didnt make the adjustment quick enough." Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 22nd save, but he allowed the tying run to come to the plate with two out. It might have been Carlos Gomez, who had homered earlier in the game, but Gomez had been taken out in the double switch that brought Kintzler into the game. Roenicke said he made the switch because Gomezs bothersome shoulder had tightened up after a collision with the outfield wall. Gomez said he was fine. "It surprised me when I got out of the game," Gomez said, "especially after I hit a home run." It was a star-spangled day in the nations capital. The game began at 11:06 a.m. and featured a national anthem sang by Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a new "Freedom Song" performed by Neil Diamond. There would be fireworks on the later on the National Mall, but only after Ramos had lit up Nationals Park. Johnson essentially called the shot while chatting with bench coach Randy Knorr. "I was talking to Randy, I said, Hes had a good day, he might as well just hit one out here," Johnson said. "And, boom, sure enough he did." NOTES: Ramos must love national celebration days. His last three-hit game came on Cinco de Mayo. ... Desmond was doing so well that he was intentionally walked to put Bryce Harper at the plate with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth. Harper grounded out to first, and he is 1 for 15 since returning from a knee injury, and the only hit was a home run in his first at-bat. ... The Brewers were hurt by minor league mistakes. They failed to execute a rundown when Harper was caught between first and second in the third inning, and Juan Francisco strayed too far off first and was thrown out by the cutoff man after an RBI single in the sixth. Air Force One Suomi . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Nike Air Force 1 Ale . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. http://www.airforce1suomi.com/ . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Air Force 1 Kengät .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Air Force 1 Just Do It Suomi . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox canceled a David Ortiz bobblehead promotion Tuesday night when the figurine turned out to be racially insensitive, said team president Sam Kennedy.The bobblehead depicts Ortiz addressing fans at Fenway Park following the Boston Marathon bombings, but Kennedy said it didnt much resemble the retiring slugger and was not fit for distribution.Kennedy saw the final version of the bobblehead for the first time Tuesday afternoon after they were delivered.My two immediate reactions were first, it was a really inaccurate portrayal of what he looks like, Kennedy told The Associated Press. My personal reaction was it was offensive and, to me, kind of appeared racially insensitive. I just had a bad reaction.He then held a meeting with several team officials.My gut feeling was if I have that negative reaction then our fans may as well, he said. We just made the decision to scrap the whole thing. We apologize to everyone tonight and will make it up to fans.The giveaway was supposed to be for tthe first 15,000 fans at Tuesdays game against the Yankees.dddddddddddd To make up for the inconvenience, any fan holding a ticket to the game will be able to get a new Ortiz bobblehead once they are reproduced.The rejected bobblehead was made by BDA, Inc., and the company will also produce the replacements.We value our decades-long relationship with the Red Sox organization and its decision to postpone Tuesdays David Ortiz bobblehead giveaway, BDA said in a statement. Were currently working closely with the Red Sox to ensure the team and its fans receive a quality product.The Red Sox sent out a statement and apology via their website and social media several hours before a 5-3 win over the Yankees.Were going to redo them and get them right and apologize for the disappointment for anyone tonight, Kennedy said.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower ' ' '