The Nationals did both this afternoon, riding Stephen Strasburg’s seven innings of scoreless ball and clutch hits from Trea Turner and Daniel Murphy to a 4-1 victory over the Indians that salvaged a two-game series split at Progressive Field.
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The powerful right-hander made the most of his next outing by shaking off the one blemish on his resume this season and holding the Indians to three hits as the Nationals recovered after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth and losing on Tuesday night.
Bryan Shaw (2-4) got two outs in the ninth and picked up the win as Cleveland won its first home game since July 10.
Wilson Ramos and Anthony Rendon homered for the Nats.
Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, center, is mobbed by teammates after driving in the winning run off Washington Nationals pitcher Oliver Perez during the ninth inning Tuesday.
Even with their dramatic 7-6 victory thanks to a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning in the first game of the series Tuesday, the Indians are just 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Rajai Davis then intentionally popped up his bunt attempt, which dropped onto the infield grass for a single as the Nationals were shifting on the pitch. He lasted a season-low four-plus innings.
Two sure ways to wash away the bitter taste of back-to-back losses via bullpen meltdown: 1) Get a dominant start from one of your aces, and 2) Score enough runs that you don’t need to send your embattled closer back to the mound.
Bartolo Colon pitched three-hit ball for seven sharp innings and NY overcame another home run by Jedd Gyorko to beat St. Louis for a doubleheader split.
Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run (his 20th of the year).
Washington rookie Trea Turner drove in three runs and Daniel Murphy hit his 20th homer off Carlos Carrasco (7-4), who almost matched Strasburg but was done in by one bad inning. He allowed a double to the second, Tyler Naquin, which scored a run.
Sabathia allowed a solo home run to Marwin Gonzalez in the first inning. The 1991 anniversary celebration was marked by Gene Larkin, who had the winning hit in the 11th inning of Game 7, throwing the first pitch. In his last six starts, Carrasco is 5-1 with a 1.16 ERA and he has held opposing teams to a.149 batting average. Three batters later, Ben Revere drew the third walk of the inning on a 12-pitch at-bat to load the bases.
He was never in real trouble and on the two occasions the Indians got a runner to third, Strasburg got the out he needed.
Luis Perdomo (5-4) allowed five hits, two walks and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 8, BREWERS 1 Yasmany Tomas hit two home runs as visiting Arizona beat Milwaukee.
Dusty Baker told reporters before the game that he’d take another thirteen wins from the 27-year-old right-hander, who signed a 7-year/$175M extension with the Nationals in the middle of what ended up a 21-start unbeaten streak. Closer Alex Colome earned his 22nd save in 23 opportunities with a flawless ninth.
The Indians’ bullpen inconsistency is reflected by the team’s seven walk-off losses this season, the second most in the majors. Gregory Polanco collected a season-high four hits, including his 13th homer, but the Pirates went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
The Nationals lost for the sixth time in eight games, trimming their lead in the NL East to four games over Florida and 4 1/2 over the New York Mets.
OUR PICK: Take the over, which is 14-3 in Strasburg’s last 17 starts and 4-1 in his last five road starts.
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MINNEAPOLIS – Lucas Harrell pitched six innings, Adonis Garcia homered and the Braves beat the Twins in a matchup of the worst teams in the majors.
