Marlins hammer Strasburg, Nationals

By STEVEN WINE

AP Sports Writer

MIAMI — Pitching in air conditioning, Stephen Strasburg nonetheless soaked his jersey with perspiration after only a couple of innings.

The first-place Washington Nationals have reason to start sweating.

Strasburg gave up a career-high seven runs in five innings Tuesday night and the Nationals’ losing streak reached five games when they were beaten by Ricky Nolasco and the last-place Miami Marlins 9-0.

“I’m sure there’s not a pitcher in the history of baseball who has gone out there and done it every single time,” Strasburg said. “I struggled for pretty much the whole game. It’s a learning experience for me.”

Nolasco (10-12) allowed five hits in his third career shutout and eighth complete game. The shutout was the first for the Marlins at their new ballpark.

The Nationals began the night with baseball’s best record, but they’re saddled with a losing streak that matches their season high.

“We’ve played really good 90 percent of the year,” manager Davey Johnson said. “We’re in a rough spot here. That makes the metal hotter. The tougher it gets, the stronger you get, so we’ll be fine.”

Strasburg (15-6) came into the game with a streak of 27 consecutive scoreless innings against Miami in five starts since last September. But he gave up a homer to his second batter, Justin Ruggiano, and trailed 5-0 by the third inning.

Strasburg shrugged off the significance of the drenched jersey, but Johnson said it was telling.

“He was fighting himself a little bit,” the manager said. “He gave up more hits than he’s used to giving up. … He’s such a perfectionist, when he gives up a hit he’s going to be upset. That’s part of the maturation process for a young pitcher.”

Strasburg is expected to make perhaps four more starts before the Nationals shut him down for the year to protect his surgically repaired elbow. The drubbing doesn’t change that plan, Johnson said.

Strasburg said the Marlins adjusted to his inside fastball and didn’t try to hit the ball the other way.

“They had a little different approach this time, and I didn’t make the adjustment,” he said. “I just kept trying to do the same thing.”

The young right-hander, who had won his past four starts, allowed five earned runs and gave up nine hits to match a career high. He struck out only three but leads the NL with 186 strikeouts.

Nolasco struck out five, walked none and lowered his ERA to 4.78. He retired 14 in a row and held the Nationals hitless until Kurt Suzuki singled with two outs in the fifth.

The complete game was his second in the past three starts.

“Anytime you’re rolling like that, you want to finish it off,” Nolasco said.

Ruggiano had a career-high four hits in four at-bats and drove in two runs, while Giancarlo Stanton added three hits and three RBIs. Seven of the Marlins’ runs scored with two outs, and they totaled 13 hits.

Ian Desmond (hamstring) and Michael Morse (hand), both sidelined last weekend with injuries, returned to the Nationals’ lineup but went hitless.

“The good news about that one,” Johnson said, “is it was only 2½ hours.”

The Marlins scored twice off Strasburg in the first inning. Ruggiano hit his 13th home run. Carlos Lee doubled with two outs, then came home on a broken-bat single by Stanton.

Miami added three runs in the third. Bryan Petersen led off with a single, stole second, took third on a groundout and came home when second baseman Danny Espinosa mishandled a grounder for an error. Greg Dobbs’ two-out single brought home two unearned runs to make it 5-0.

Ruggiano had a two-out RBI single against Strasburg in the fourth.

“He’s the toughest I’ve faced in a game as far as overall stuff,” Ruggiano said. “Hopefully he’s tipping his cap to us, because I think we all had a good approach to him.”

Donovan Solano drove in the final run against Strasburg, extending his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-out RBI single in the fifth that made it 7-0.

“Any team wants to come out and make a name for themselves off Stephen Strasburg,” Desmond said. “The guy is one of the best pitchers in the game, and they’re not just going to lay down for him.”

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pedro Alvarez homered twice and drove in four runs, James McDonald scattered two hits over seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0 on Tuesday night.

Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the third to give the Pirates a comfortable lead, added an RBI double in the fourth and then hit a 469-foot drive to center in the sixth. He went 4 for 5 as Pittsburgh drew within two games of the Cardinals in the race for the NL’s second wild-card spot.

McDonald (12-6) gave up two hits, walked one and struck out six to beat Jake Westbrook (13-10) for the second time in two weeks.

The Cardinals played most of the game without catcher Yadier Molina, who sustained neck, back and shoulder injuries in a violent collision at home plate with Josh Harrison.

METS 9, PHILLIES 5 (10)

PHILADELPHIA — Ike Davis hit a tiebreaking double during a four-run 10th inning, Kelly Shoppach had a two-run homer and New York beat Philadelphia for its third straight victory.

Shoppach hit a tying double in the eighth and then connected off B.J. Rosenberg (0-2). Mike Baxter also hit a two-run shot for the Mets, who are 6-1 in Philadelphia this season.

It was the first time in 10 games New York scored more than three runs.

Ryan Howard hit a grand slam and Chase Utley had a solo shot for the Phillies, who had won four straight.

Bobby Parnell (4-3) tossed two scoreless innings for the win.

GIANTS 3, ASTROS 2

HOUSTON — Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez delivered a go-ahead single in the ninth inning and San Francisco rallied to beat Houston.

The NL West leaders were down 2-1 entering the ninth. Brandon Belt singled off Wesley Wright to start the inning before pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias doubled off Wilton Lopez (5-3) to tie it. Sanchez completed the rally with his one-out liner to center.

Houston took the lead on a wild pitch by Matt Cain in the eighth. Cain allowed two runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings.

Santiago Casilla (5-5) got two outs and Sergio Romo threw a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

The loss dropped Astros interim manager Tony DeFrancesco to 1-7 and came in front of 13,516 fans — the smallest crowd in the history of Houston’s 12-year-old ballpark.

ROCKIES 8, DODGERS 4

DENVER — Wilin Rosario homered among his three hits and drove in three runs, Tyler Chatwood pitched five effective innings and Colorado beat Los Angeles.

Andrew Brown had three hits for the Rockies, who have won eight of 10. Chatwood (4-3) allowed two earned runs and struck out four.

Hanley Ramirez homered for the Dodgers, who have lost three straight after winning their first game following a nine-player trade with Boston that brought Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett to Los Angeles.

Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp left with a bruised right knee. Chris Capuano (11-10) gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings.

BREWERS 4, CUBS 1

CHICAGO — Jeff Bianchi hit a three-run shot for his first big league homer to lead the Brewers over Chicago.

Bianchi went deep off Travis Wood (4-11) with two outs in the second for Milwaukee, which has won seven of eight and beaten the Cubs seven straight times.

Yovani Gallardo (14-8) won his seventh consecutive start, holding Chicago to three hits over seven innings and striking out nine. Gallardo has pitched at least seven innings in all six starts since July 31. He’s held the Cubs to a single run in each of his last four appearances at Wrigley Field.

John Axford finished for his 21st save in 29 chances.

Wood hit his third career homer but lost for the eighth time in nine starts despite limiting Milwaukee to three runs over seven innings. The Cubs have lost 21 of 27. YANKEES 2, BLUE JAYS 1

New York — Phil Hughes had another fine start at home, Nick Swisher extended his torrid streak with an RBI single and New York handed Ricky Romero his 11th straight loss Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over Toronto.

Hughes (13-11) won his sixth consecutive decision at Yankee Stadium, giving up only Adeiny Hechavarria’s first major league homer in seven innings. He allowed four hits and walked three.

Rafael Soriano bounced back from a blown save Monday night, when he gave up a go-ahead homer to Colby Rasmus with two outs in the ninth, by working a perfect inning to finish the four-hitter for his 34th save in 37 tries.

Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly to help the Yankees to their fifth win in 12 games. They beat Romero (8-12) for the third time during his winless skid.

The left-hander has not won in 12 starts since June 22. The Blue Jays have provided little help, though, giving him just 17 runs of support in his last 10 starts.

ORIOLES 6, WHITE SOX 0

BALTIMORE — Chris Tillman allowed one hit over seven innings and Nick Markakis drove in three runs as Baltimore defeated Chris Sale and Chicago for its fourth straight win.

Lew Ford homered for the second time in two nights and Adam Jones hit his 100th career home run for the Orioles, who moved a season-high 14 games over .500 (71-57) and remained atop the AL wild-card standings.

The only hit against Tillman (7-2) was an infield dribbler by Dayan Viciedo in the fifth inning that shortstop J.J. Hardy couldn’t snag with an attempted barehanded pickup. Pitching on six days’ rest, Tillman walked four, struck out five and did not allow a runner past second.

Brian Matusz worked the final two innings, allowing one hit in completing Baltimore’s seventh shutout.

Sale (15-5) gave up four runs and six hits in four innings, his shortest start of the season. The left-hander lost for the second time in six starts since July 21.

It was the fifth straight road loss for the White Sox, who won six in a row at home before dropping the first two of this four-game series. It was Chicago’s most lopsided shutout defeat of the season.

The Orioles have won 12 of 15 at home as they continue toward their first winning season in 15 years.

ATHLETICS 7, INDIANS 0

CLEVELAND — Tommy Milone and three Oakland relievers extended Cleveland’s scoreless streak to 22 innings.

Brandon Moss and Chris Carter homered off Zach McAllister (5-5) as Oakland won its fourth straight to remain tied with Baltimore atop the AL wild-card race. Oakland is 5-0 against Cleveland and has won 10 of 12 since dropping eight of 13.

Milone (11-9) worked six innings. Jerry Blevins, Pat Neshek and Evan Scribner completed Oakland’s third straight shutout over the Indians.

The Athletics are 14 games over .500 for the first time since finishing 2006 at 93-69. They have the best overall record since the start of July at 34-15.

Cleveland has lost 12 of 13 and is 5-25 since July 27. The Indians have failed to score in 45 of their last 48 innings overall.

Oakland has outscored the Indians 17-0 in their last three meetings.

RANGERS 1, RAYS 0

ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish struck out 10 over seven innings for Texas to win a pitchers’ duel against Tampa Bay’s James Shields.

Ian Kinsler homered to give Texas enough against the suddenly sliding Rays, who have lost four straight, had runners on base in each of the first five innings against Darvish (13-9) and still couldn’t score. It was their fourth 1-0 loss this season — all in their last 22 games this month.

Shields (12-8) allowed three hits over seven innings, including Kinsler’s homer leading off the fourth. The Rays right-hander struck out eight, walked two and hit a batter.

Darvish, who allowed six hits, has a majors-best eight 10-strikeout games. The only Ranger with more in a season is Nolan Ryan, the hard-throwing Hall of Famer who is now the team’s president and watched from the first row. Ryan had 18 such games in 1989.

Joe Nathan struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to convert his 25th consecutive save opportunity, matching the Rangers team record while wrapping up the team’s 10th shutout this season. Nathan has retired the last 14 batters he has faced.

MARINERS 5, TWINS 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Dustin Ackley hit a three-run homer and Hisashi Iwakuma gave up one hit and one unearned run over six innings.

Iwakuma (5-3) struck out four and helped send the Twins to their 16th defeat in their last 19 games despite four walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.

Ackley’s drive off Scott Diamond (10-6) followed consecutive singles by Trayvon Robinson and Brendan Ryan to start the fifth. Diamond gave up more than three runs for the first time in seven starts since July 21.

The announced attendance was 29,854, the first sub-30,000 crowd to watch the Twins since Target Field opened in 2010.

The Mariners, who began the day nine games behind in the AL wild-card race, have won 12 of their last 16 games. They have won seven straight against the Twins.

After Ryan Doumit’s RBI double off Charlie Furbush, Tom Wilhelmsen got the last out of the ninth inning for his 20th save in 23 attempts.