MLB: Nationals, O’s fall in Tuesday tilts

Phils top Nationals in series opener

A Maikel Franco RBI double broke a 3-3 seventh-inning tie, lifting Philadelphia to a 4-3 win at Washington on Tuesday.

The Nats (14-5) had battled back to tie the game in the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles by Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman.

Starter Max Scherzer had given up a two-run homer in the top of the first to Andres Blanco to fall behind early, but eventually went six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking four.

Oliver Perez (1-1, 3.00 ERA) took the loss in relief.

Vince Velasquez (3-1, 1.78 ERA) earned the win for the Phillies, giving up three runs on five hits in six innings, striking out four and walking three.

 

O’s fall for second straight night to Rays

A Kevin Kiermaier two-run homer broke a 1-1 sixth-inning tie, and the Tampa Bay bullpen made it stand up in a 3-1 win over Baltimore on Tuesday.

The O’s (11-7) got their only offense on a Mark Trumbo RBI single in the fourth.

Kiermaier hit his third homer of the season off Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 3.91 ERA).

Jimenez threw six innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out six and walking three.

Trumbo was 2-for-4 on the night to improve his batting average to .373.