Nationals throttle Tampa Bay, 11-2

WASHINGTON— Anthony Rendon had four hits and drove in three runs, Tanner Roark pitched six innings and the Washington Nationals routed the Tampa Bay Rays 11-2 on Wednesday to sweep the two-game series.

Michael A. Taylor had three hits and three RBIs, while Trea Turner and Juan Soto had two hits each for Washington, which has won 11 of its last 15 games.

Roark (3-6, 3.56 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits while enjoying a rare outpouring of support. The Nationals had scored 16 runs in the last seven games he started.

C.J. Cron hit his 13th homer and Brad Miller had three hits for the Rays, who have lost six straight and have scored six runs in their last four.

The Nationals reached starter Jonny Venters (1-1) for five runs in the first inning. A reliever being used to “open” the game—something the Rays have done eight times in their last 17 games— Venters was starting his first game in his 245 appearances. He lasted only six batters as Rendon doubled home two runs and scored on Taylor’s double.

Roark capped the inning with a two-run single off Ryan Yarbrough.

Venters, who had given up one run in 14 games prior to Wednesday in his comeback season, became the first pitcher in major league history to start a game after three Tommy John surgeries.

Washington pulled away with a four-run sixth off Yarbrough, who allowed five runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings.

Orioles 1, Mets 0

NEW YORK— Manny Machado had a sacrifice fly, Dylan Bundy was stellar over seven scoreless innings and the major leagueworst Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Mets 1-0 on Wednesday to sweep a two-game interleague series.

Bundy (4-7), who held the Mets to three hits while striking out five and walking three, was sharp through most of the afternoon before running into trouble in the seventh.

After retiring the first two batters, the righty gave up a single to Kevin Plawecki before loading the bases with an intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez and a walk to pinch-hitter Jose Bautista. But Bundy, who had struck out 20 in his previous two starts, fanned Amed Rosario with just three pitches to escape unscathed.

Richard Bleier followed Bundy with a scoreless eighth, and Brad Brach picked up his 10th save of the season by retiring three straight batters in the ninth after putting the potential game-tying run at first.

The Orioles, who had lost their previous seven games before arriving in New York, didn’t fare well against Mets starter Zach Wheeler, who allowed three hits and had five strikeouts with a walk in seven innings.

However, Baltimore did take advantage of New York closer Jeurys Familia (2-3) in the eighth inning.

Pinch-hitter Pedro Alvarez reached on an infield single and pinch-runner Graig Gentry stole second base before advancing to third on Adam Jones’ one-out single.

After falling behind in the count 0-1, Machado lifted the next pitch to deep center to drive in Baltimore’s run and send the Mets to their sixth straight loss.

Indians 3, Brewers 1

CLEVELAND—Carlos Carrasco struck out 10 and allowed one run in seven innings, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Wednesday.

Carrasco (7-4) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and threw inning-ending double play balls in the fifth and seventh. The right-hander pumped his fist after Lorenzo Cain bounced into a double play on his 109th and final pitch.

Carrasco stopped the Brewers for the second time this season. He struck out 14 and pitched a complete game in Milwaukee on May 9.

Jose Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth when Cleveland scored three times. Travis Shaw’s RBI single put Milwaukee ahead in the third, but Michael Brantley’s fifth-inning single tied the game.

Cody Allen got the final four outs for his 11th save and the Indians took both games of the brief series. Cleveland’s closer also saved Tuesday night’s 3-2 win.

Chase Anderson (4-5) allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Brewers have lost three straight for the first time since April 26-29, when they dropped four in a row.

Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell was ejected by plate umpire Quinn Wolcott after Shaw was called out on strikes in the eighth.

Carrasco struck out four of the first six hitters and then allowed hits to five of the next seven. Christian Yelich led off the third with a double, took third on a groundout and scored on Shaw’s single.

Milwaukee loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but Cain flied out. Shaw grounded into an inning-ending double play with two on in the fifth.

Cleveland’s Lonnie Chisenhall flied out to deep center to begin the fifth, but the next six hitters reached base. Rajai Davis singled and stole second. Francisco Lindor walked and Brantley singled through the left side with the runners going. The hit scored Davis and finished Anderson.

Ramirez doubled into the rightfield corner off Jeremy Jeffress, scoring Lindor. Edwin Encarnacion walked to load the bases and Jeffress walked Yonder Alonso to force in a run.

Davis stole three bases for the

13th time in his career.

Padres 3, Braves 1

SAN DIEGO—Johnny Wholestaff did a tremendous job for the San Diego Padres against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

Wholestaff, of course, is a reference to when a team needs to tap its bullpen to get through all 27 outs. Matt Strahm and four fellow relievers came through by holding the Braves to four hits in a 3-1 victory.

“They were outstanding. All of them were great,” said manager Andy Green, who turned to a bullpen game for the second time in 11 games because rookie left-hander Joey Lucchesi remains on the disabled list. The other time was a 6-1 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 27, also started by Strahm.

“As an offense we’ve done a good job of taking notice that that’s the strength of our team, especially late in games there,” Eric Hosmer said. “If we can just continue to add on to leads and play for one run late there, it’ll be good for us.”

Strahm went 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run and two hits while striking out two and walking one. He gave up Freddie Freeman’s home run with two outs in the first, his 11th.

Rookie lefty Jose Castillo (1-0) allowed one hit and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings. Adam Cimber struck out the side in the fifth. Kirby Yates walked two in two hitless innings.

Closer Brad Hand came on for the eighth and allowed a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies before striking out Dansby Swanson, Freeman and Nick Markakis. Hand then retired the side in the ninth for his 18th save.

The Padres acquired Strahm from Kansas City last year while the lefty was still recovering from surgery on his torn left patellar tendon. Green said there’s value to opening a game with Strahm because the manager sees him as a potential starter.