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Nationals: Turner Sets Tempo In 4-1 Win Over Indians

By Ricky Keeler

Jul 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) delivers in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) delivers in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Trea Turner drove in three runs and Stephen Strasburg threw seven shutout innings in the Washington Nationals 4-1 win

After last night’s ninth inning collapse, the Washington Nationals were looking to get a split of their two game mini series against the Cleveland Indians this afternoon. Thanks to a three-hit day from Trea Turner and six shutout innings by Stephen Strasburg, the Nats defeated the Indians 4-1.

The scoring began in the top of the second inning. Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon started off the inning by drawing back-to-back walks against Carlos Carrasco. Three batters later, Ben Revere drew the third walk of the inning on a 12-pitch at-bat to load the bases.

In that situation, Turner (led off the game with a double in the first), hit a single to left that scored Werth and Ryan Zimmerman to put the Washington Nationals in front 2-0. Also, with that walk in the second, Werth extended his on-base streak to 30 games.

Once the Washington Nationals got the lead, Strasburg was able to get into a rhythm against the Indians lineup. He went seven innings, gave up no runs on three hits, struck out seven, and walked two on 110 pitches (71 strikes) in the win, his 14th of the season (one shy of a career-high).

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As for Carrasco, he went six innings, gave up three runs on three hits, struck out five, and walked three on 105 pitches (69 strikes) in the loss.

In the top of the sixth, Daniel Murphy led off the inning with a solo home run to right against Carrasco. His 20th home run of the year gave the Washington Nationals a 3-0 lead. Murphy picked up his second hit of the day in the eighth with a leadoff double to right.

Turner added his third RBI of the day one inning later against Dan Otero. With Zimmerman on third and two out, he hit his second double of the day to increase the lead to 4-0.

After Strasburg, Sammy Solis and Matt Belisle threw a scoreless eighth inning (Solis had two strikeouts). Then, in the ninth, things got a little interesting. With one out, Felipe Rivero walked Erik Gonzalez, allowed a single to Rajai Davis, and a RBI single to Tyler Naquin.

Next: Takeaways From 7-6 Loss Against Indians

With the lead cut to 4-1, Dusty Baker went with Blake Treinen to face pinch-hitter Roberto Perez. Treinen got the job done by getting Perez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to secure the win and pick up his first save of the season.

Next Game: The Washington Nationals (59-42) will begin a four game series tomorrow night at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants (59-41). You can watch the game on MASN2 at 10:15 p.m ET. Tanner Roark (9-6, 3.05 ERA) will start for the Nats against Johnny Cueto (13-2, 2.53) for the Giants.

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