Nationals: Baker said after the game that RHP Stephen Strasburg (back, ribs) will come off the off the DL and take his turn Sunday. The move was probably the correct one for Baker, who’s had a reputation for overusing his starters in previous managerial stints.
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“I think that was Harp’s first error of the year and Zim’s second, they’re usually sure-handed guys”, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. In late June, Strasburg strained his upper back and was placed on 15-day DL.
The Cincinnati Reds have been let down by their league-worst bullpen all season but are getting exemplary work out of the relief crew this weekend.
“It’s really fitting that Tucker gets that hit in the tenth because we’ve been together since 2010 (when) I got drafted”, Smith said. Stephen Drew hit a solo homer in the eighth, giving the Nationals a season-high six long balls in the game.
Murphy singled in another run in the bottom of the sixth, sending a grounder by third, just under Eugenio Suarez’s glove after a walk to Jayson Werth and a HBP on Bryce Harper from Reds’ right-hander Keyvius Sampson. 9-0. Espinosa finished the series 7 for 18 (.389) with five homers and 15 RBIs.
The Reds broke up the no-hitter, and the shutout, with three hits and a run in the eighth against reliever Matt Belisle. And just when you thought he’d settle for a share of the homer crown, he knocked a tater to right field in the seventh inning to reclaim his lead.
Since June 7th, Werht is 26 for 79 (.329 AVG) with seven doubles, a home run and 22 walks over that stretch. Solis was working a tie game in the ninth inning with closer Jonathan Papelbon (intercostal strain) unavailable, and the veteran closer is inching closer to a return after making his second rehab appearance at Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday.
Revere saved at least two runs with a diving catch in short center to end the fifth and a leaping catch at the wall for the last out of the sixth.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) is pulled from a bseball game during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, July 3, 2016, in Washington.
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He got a no-decision June 4 in Cincinnati after allowing three runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Coming in to Sunday’s start, he was 10-0 in 14 starts with a 2.90 ERA and a 118:24 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
