Slim difference: One close play, two misfires doom Patrick Corbin & Washington Nationals

Patrick Corbin turned in one of his strongest outings of the season on Sunday against the Houston Astros, while his counterpart Justin Verlander labored even as he took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning.

But it was Verlander (5-1), who left with a lead after five, while the still winless Corbin (0-6) and the Nats’ defense faltered just enough in that crucial inning to open the door for an 8-0 Houston win in the series finale at Nationals Park.

Corbin allowed just three hits and a walk through four, but wound up working into the seventh, with three home runs accounting for half his hits and all five of his earned runs.

Corbin’s walk to Chas McCormick with one out in the fifth was just his…