WASHINGTON (AP) Mark Trumbo homered, Andrew Cashner and four relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Baltimore Orioles shook off a long rain delay to beat the Washington Nationals 3-0 Wednesday night.
The Orioles led 2-0 after four innings when play was stopped. After a wait of 2 hours, 43 minutes, the game resumed with a few hundred fans from the announced crowd of 32,153 sprinkled around the lower seating bowl.
Baltimore got the final out well after midnight to end a six-game losing streak to Washington that began last May.
The Nationals managed only two hits following the delay, both in the ninth inning.
The rain delay cut short a solid pitching performance by Cashner, who allowed three hits and no walks over four innings in his return from an 11-day stay on the disabled list with back spasms.
Miguel Castro (2-2) followed with two hitless innings, Darren ODay pitched a perfect seventh and Zach Britton got four outs.
Brad Brach allowed the Nationals to load the bases with two outs in the ninth before striking out Mark Reynolds.
Trumbo hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Gio Gonzalez (6-4), and for a while it appeared the drive would be washed out by the rain.
But it all ended well for the Orioles, who added a run in the sixth when Adam Jones doubled off Shawn Kelley and scored on a sacrifice fly by Danny Valencia.
Baltimore won for only the fourth time in 20 games and improved the majors worst road record to 10-28.
BRYCE STRUGGLES
Nationals OF Bryce Harper went 0 for 4, dropping his batting average to .209.
Manager Dave Martinez said Harper has been working hard with batting coach Kevin Long, and the manager expects the five-time All-Star to end his prolonged slump with a flourish.
”Hes going to hit. I know hes going to carry us for a month or two or for whatever,” Martinez said.
WAITING FOR DAVIS
Now in the third year of a seven-year, $161 million contract, Baltimores Chris Davis is batting .150 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 57 games. He last played on June 11, when he went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts against Boston.
Since then, Davis has been working on his swing and improving his mental outlook. His return appears imminent.
”A couple of days,” manager Buck Showalter said. ”Were pretty close to it.”
OH, BROTHER
With Cashner coming off the DL, the Orioles optioned infielder Corban Joseph to Double-A Bowie. That ended the 24-hour, feel-good story of Corban and catcher Caleb Joseph as brothers on the same team.
TRAINERS ROOM
Orioles: 3B Tim Beckham (core surgery) went 1 for 4 with 3 strikeouts in a rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk. … RHP Chris Tillman (back) began his rehab assignment by giving up three runs in two innings for Class A Aberdeen.
Nationals: Martinez said patience is the key in awaiting the return of RHP Stephen Strasburg (shoulder). ”Were really going to take our time and make sure hes 100 percent,” the manager said. … 1B Ryan Zimmerman (oblique) is taking grounders and some swings. … C Matt Wieters (oblique) caught in the bullpen but is not yet running at full speed.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.48 ERA) pitches the finale of the three-game series Wednesday night.
Nationals: Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.06) tries to avoid his first three-game losing streak since August 2015.
—
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
WASHINGTON (AP) Mark Trumbo homered, Andrew Cashner and four relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Baltimore Orioles shook off a long rain delay to beat the Washington Nationals 3-0 Wednesday night.
The Orioles led 2-0 after four innings when play was stopped. After a wait of 2 hours, 43 minutes, the game resumed with a few hundred fans from the announced crowd of 32,153 sprinkled around the lower seating bowl.
Baltimore got the final out well after midnight to end a six-game losing streak to Washington that began last May.
The Nationals managed only two hits following the delay, both in the ninth inning.
The rain delay cut short a solid pitching performance by Cashner, who allowed three hits and no walks over four innings in his return from an 11-day stay on the disabled list with back spasms.
Miguel Castro (2-2) followed with two hitless innings, Darren ODay pitched a perfect seventh and Zach Britton got four outs.
Brad Brach allowed the Nationals to load the bases with two outs in the ninth before striking out Mark Reynolds.
Trumbo hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Gio Gonzalez (6-4), and for a while it appeared the drive would be washed out by the rain.
But it all ended well for the Orioles, who added a run in the sixth when Adam Jones doubled off Shawn Kelley and scored on a sacrifice fly by Danny Valencia.
Baltimore won for only the fourth time in 20 games and improved the majors worst road record to 10-28.
BRYCE STRUGGLES
Nationals OF Bryce Harper went 0 for 4, dropping his batting average to .209.
Manager Dave Martinez said Harper has been working hard with batting coach Kevin Long, and the manager expects the five-time All-Star to end his prolonged slump with a flourish.
”Hes going to hit. I know hes going to carry us for a month or two or for whatever,” Martinez said.
WAITING FOR DAVIS
Now in the third year of a seven-year, $161 million contract, Baltimores Chris Davis is batting .150 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 57 games. He last played on June 11, when he went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts against Boston.
Since then, Davis has been working on his swing and improving his mental outlook. His return appears imminent.
”A couple of days,” manager Buck Showalter said. ”Were pretty close to it.”
OH, BROTHER
With Cashner coming off the DL, the Orioles optioned infielder Corban Joseph to Double-A Bowie. That ended the 24-hour, feel-good story of Corban and catcher Caleb Joseph as brothers on the same team.
TRAINERS ROOM
Orioles: 3B Tim Beckham (core surgery) went 1 for 4 with 3 strikeouts in a rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk. … RHP Chris Tillman (back) began his rehab assignment by giving up three runs in two innings for Class A Aberdeen.
Nationals: Martinez said patience is the key in awaiting the return of RHP Stephen Strasburg (shoulder). ”Were really going to take our time and make sure hes 100 percent,” the manager said. … 1B Ryan Zimmerman (oblique) is taking grounders and some swings. … C Matt Wieters (oblique) caught in the bullpen but is not yet running at full speed.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.48 ERA) pitches the finale of the three-game series Wednesday night.
Nationals: Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.06) tries to avoid his first three-game losing streak since August 2015.
—
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
