Nats reign in NL East, clinch play-off spot
WASHINGTON: Washington became the first team in the Major League Baseball to clinch a play-off spot this season, winning the NL East as Stephen Strasburg extended his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 innings in the Nationals’ 3-2 win over the Phillies yesterday.
More than 90 minutes after Washington finished off the Phillies, Nationals Park erupted again when Lane Adams hit a tworun, 11th-inning homer to lead Atlanta over second-place Miami, sealing the division title for the fourth time in six years.
Strasburg (13-4) threw two-hit ball for eight innings and struck out 10. He hasn’t allowed a run since Aug 19 at San Diego, his first start since coming off the disabled list with an elbow nerve impingement.
Ryan Madson gave up Nick Williams’ bloop two-out, two-run single before retiring Rhys Hoskins on a grounder for his second save this season and first since the Nationals acquired him from Oakland on July 16.
Rookie Ben Lively (3-6) allowed six hits and struck out seven in his first career complete game, the first for the Phillies this year.
In Cleveland, the Cleveland Indians stretched their franchise-record winning streak to 18 games, beating the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 behind homers from Francisco Lindor and Roberto Perez.
Cleveland’s streak is the longest in the majors since Oakland won 20 straight in 2002. The best run in baseball history belongs to the New York Giants, who had a 26-game streak in 1916, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Giants’ streak included a tie, which doesn’t count as a game in baseball.
The crowd of 21,259 roared in the ninth inning as Cody Allen recorded his 26th save. He struck out the first two hitters and retired Trey Mancini on a line drive to right field to end the game.
Perez snapped a one-all tie in the sixth with a leadoff homer. Lindor then broke two bats while running the count to 3-2 before homering to right.
Trevor Bauer (16-8) allowed two runs in 6-1/3 innings for Cleveland.