*Photo from Fansided*
The Washington Nationals welcomed back Juan Soto to the lineup for their game Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. Soto drove in one run, Carter Kieboom doubled, and the Nationals topped the Tampa Bay Rays by a 5-3 score to sweep the short two game series between the two teams. Soto had missed 5 games with left elbow soreness, but was able to return as the DH.
The Nats got the scoring started in the first inning when Soto grounded out to third base, which scored Victor Robles to make it 1-0 Nats. In the second inning, Kieboom hit an RBI double to left field to make it 2-0. In the 3rd inning, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a sac fly and Josh Harrison hit an RBI single and the lead extended to 4-0. In the 6th, Ji-Man Choi hit an RBI single, Yoshi Tsutsugo hit an RBI double, and Choi scored on a wild pitch, getting the Rays on the board and making it just a one run lead for the Nats, a 4-3 score. The Nats got one run back on a Trea Turner groundout in the bottom of the 6th to make it 5-3, which held for the rest of the game.
Anibal Sanchez got the win for Washington, throwing 5 innings, with his record increasing to 2-4 as a result. Sanchez allowed three runs on 4 hits and two walks, striking out 6. He was responsible for all 3 runs the Rays scored in the 6th, as he did start the 6th inning on the mound and let several hitters reach base. Daniel Hudson worked the 9th, picking up his 9th save of the year with a scoreless inning. Wander Suero, Sean Doolittle, and Tanner Rainey also pitched for Washington.
Doolittle went on the 10 day IL in mid August with an ERA of 15.00. Since he returned, he has looked like a completely different pitcher, appearing in 5 games and dropping his ERA all the way down to 6.14 by not allowing a run in any of his apppearances since returning from the IL. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Doolittle's progress that ''I'm proud of him. He went down and did what he needed to do.''
Ryan Yarbrough started and got the loss for the Rays, his record falling to 0-3 on the season. Yarbrough threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and one walk, striking out just one hitter. Aaron Slegers came in right after Yarbrough, throwing 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run on no hits and 3 walks. Ryan Thompson and John Curtiss also pitched for the Rays.
Because they got swept, the Rays have lost two games in a row, although they have won 6 of their last 10 games. Despite that, manager Kevin Cash wasn't excited, saying after the game that ''These last two days, we can't find any consistency, any rhythm in our lineup, we've got a handful of guys that are just not being themselves for whatever reason.''
The Rays have a day off on Wednesday, travelling back home to face the Boston Red Sox in a 4 game series. Lefty Josh Fleming gets the start for the series opener on Thursday. The Nationals also have a day off on Wednesday, staying at home as they welcome the Atlanta Braves to town for a 4 game series starting Thursday. Austin Voth is scheduled to start for Washington.
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