Soto's two-run double lifts Nationals over Orioles
Juan Soto lined a tie-breaking two-run double in the bottom of the eighth to give the Washington Nationals a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game interleague series at Nationals Park.
The game was tied at 2 until the game-winning rally against Mychal Givens (0-4) in the eighth. Bryce Harper doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a Trea Turner single.
One out later, Soto lined a pitch into the gap in left-center, scoring both runners for a two-run Washington lead.
Recently acquired right-hander Kelvin Herrera (2-1) got the win thanks to a scoreless eight. Sean Doolittle then earned his 20th save in the ninth.
Max Scherzer threw seven strong innings for the Nationals but came away with a no-decision. The right-hander was making his third attempt for an 11th victory.
He allowed solo homers to Colby Rasmus and Mark Trumbo, giving up two runs on five hits. Scherzer also struck out nine with one walk.
Baltimore right-hander Kevin Gausman also came away with a no-decision. He allowed two runs in six innings, one on an Anthony Rendon homer on a 1-2 pitch in the sixth.
Gausman gave up two runs on four hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked four and needed to work his way out of trouble a few times.
Rasmus started the scoring in the first inning. He had been activated off the 60-day disabled list after not playing since early April and hit a solo homer off that gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Harper tied the game in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly. However, the Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Trumbo homered off of Scherzer.
The Orioles held the lead until the sixth when Rendon belted his leadoff homer. Washington nearly took the lead in the seventh but Rasmus struck again.
Wilmer Difo, who tripled to start the inning, was gunned down at home trying to score on pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy's fly ball to right. Rasmus made a good throw to the plate that got Difo.
--Field Level Media
