BALTIMORE (AP) – Max Scherzer withdrew 10 in seven innings, and the Washington Nationals scored an undeserved run in the eighth to break the tie and beat the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday 6-5.
With this victory, the reigning World Series national championships won the three-game series and ranked out in the East of the National League with an 8-11 record.
Washington was awarded the decisive race after Scherzer lost a four-point lead in a top-down feature in which he gave up two solo home races to Anthony Santander and a three-point shot to Pedro Severino.
With the score of five for all, Juan Soto tied with Travis Lakins (2-1) and took position for the moment in the dead field. Kurt Suzuki followed third base rio Ruiz with two outs on the court, whose shot bounced off first baseman Renato Nuez, allowing Soto to score.
Scherzer (2-1) allowed five runs and 8 hits. It’s his 96th game with at least 10 strikeouts, leaving three-time winner Cy Young with a short bit from Sandy Koufax for fifth place on the career list.
Tanner Rainey hit the eighth and Daniel Hudson had 3 outs for his fourth save.
The Orioles opener, John Means, first appeared since August 4 after taking a bereavement license and adhering to the coronavirus protection protocol. Given the left-hander’s long absence before the game, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde asked before the game what to expect.
“We just don’t know what we’re going to take from him today,” Hyde said.
The answer: 3 runs, 4 hits and one base per ball with two outs.
Trea Turner with an 11-length ball base, and Asdrubal Cabrera and Victor Robles connected RBI singles around a Kieboom sacrifice lift to get Means out early. An All-Star rookie last year, Means said goodbye to a backing start this season due to arm fatigue and has a 10.57 MPM after 3 starts.
It was 5-1 in the 6th before Severino scored, and Santander tied the scoring with a drive well above the right score. Prior to this departure, Scherzer allowed only one circuit in 4 departures.
Expelled
National batting coach Kevin Long and pitcher Anibal Sanchez were ejected at the inning for arguing over calls from marble referee Will Little, who rejected the duo.
COACH ROOM
Orioles: Reliever Dillon Tate (elbow concussion) is progressing in his attempt to return from IL 10 days after being hit through online training in an in-team game in July. He pitched hitters by choice of the team and “is approaching” to be eligible to return, Hyde said.
Following
Nationals: Sanchez (0-3, 9.69) is on his way to Washington in the opening game of a three-game series in Atlanta on Monday night.
Orioles: The Toronto Blue Jays come to town from their transition “home” in Buffalo to begin a three-game set Monday night.
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