Nationals pull away to beat Indians


Reuters | Washington DC | Updated: 30-09-2019 04:05 IST | Created: 30-09-2019 04:03 IST
Nationals pull away to beat Indians
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Kurt Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the third inning and the Washington Nationals added four more runs in the sixth on Sunday on their way to an 8-2 win over the Cleveland Indians for their eighth straight win. Riding a season-high eight game winning streak, the Nationals (93-69) will host the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in the National League wild-card game.

Suzuki gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead when he hit his 17th home run of the season, a two-out, two-run blast to also score Adam Eaton, who had walked. In the sixth, Brian Dozier gave the Nationals some breathing room with a single that scored Michael A. Taylor and Victor Robles to extend the lead to 5-1.

Gerardo Parra added a two-run double later in the inning to make it 7-1, and he singled home the Nationals' final run in the eighth. Cleveland (93-69) was eliminated from postseason contention on Friday. The Indians aren't in the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Cleveland right-hander Mike Clevinger (13-4) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four. When the Nationals scored in the first inning, they ended Clevinger's scoreless innings streak at 18. John Ross (4-4) gave up one run in six innings to get the win. He allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out eight.

The Nationals had 14 hits to the Indians' six. Juan Soto's double off the right field wall in the first inning brought home Trea Turner for Washington's 1-0 lead. Soto's 110 RBIs in a season are the second-most in Nationals/Expos history, behind Vladimir Guerrero's 131.

Francisco Lindor tied the game in the third inning when he blasted a 1-0 pitch into the second deck in right field for his 32nd home run. Jake Bauers scored Cleveland's other run on a wild pitch by Nationals reliever Aaron Barrett.

 

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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