Nationals get HRs from Adams, Soto and roll past Orioles 8-1

By: David Ginsburg, The Associated Press Posted: 9:28 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 16, 2019 Last Modified: 10:04 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 16, 2019

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BALTIMORE - Matt Adams and Juan Soto homered, rookie Austin Voth extended a streak of strong performances by Washington's rotation and the Nationals breezed past the neighbouring Baltimore Orioles 8-1 Tuesday night.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/07/2019 (2307 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BALTIMORE – Matt Adams and Juan Soto homered, rookie Austin Voth extended a streak of strong performances by Washington’s rotation and the Nationals breezed past the neighbouring Baltimore Orioles 8-1 Tuesday night.

Though the Nationals and Orioles play in stadiums located just 40 miles apart, the gap between their talent and expectations is far wider. Eagerly chasing a playoff berth, Washington has won 13 of 16 and owns the third-best record in the National League.

The Orioles, in the first year of a major rebuild, possess the worst home mark in the majors (12-35) and worst overall record (28-66).

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Austin Voth throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Recalled from Double-A Harrisburg before the game, Voth (1-0) allowed one run and four hits over six innings. He walked one and hit two batters, all in an eventful but scoreless first inning.

Washington starters are unbeaten since June 15, have allowed one earned run or fewer in 11 of their last 16 outings and have a combined 1.78 ERA over the last 11 games.

Adams’ home run off Asher Wojciechowski (0-3) made him the 102nd player in the 28-year history of Camden Yards to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street, beyond the right field wall and in front of the B&O Warehouse. Two other Nationals did it: Adam Dunn in 2009 and Roger Bernadina in 2013.

Hanser Alberto tied it with a shot to left in the bottom half, but that would be the lone run for Baltimore. In their previous game, against Tampa Bay, the Orioles made 24 straight outs before getting their first baserunner in the ninth.

Soto made it 3-1 in the sixth. His 17th homer came two pitches after he fouled a ball off his shin and dropped to the ground. Insisting he was good to go, Soto proved it by driving a fastball from Wojciechowski into the centre-field bleachers.

REUNION

Nationals manager Dave Martinez and Orioles rookie manager Brandon Hyde were part of the Cubs coaching staff from 2015-17.

“He’s awesome. I know him and his family really well,” said Martinez, adding that he had dinner with Hyde on Sunday night.

FUTURE ISN’T NOW

Right-hander Andrew Cashner was dealt to Boston on Saturday, and the Orioles are likely to unload more talent for prospects leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

“It’s not weighing on me,” Hyde said. “I think we’re all aware of where we are. You want to win games and you want to stay competitive, and obviously losing good players is going to hurt your chances of both those things. But you’ve got to try to focus on the guys that you have and look big picture. We’re in Year One of this.”

Washington Nationals' Matt Adams is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (back) threw around 75 feet and said “he felt a lot better,” according to Martinez. Scherzer is eligible to come off the injured list Saturday and could throw a bullpen session in the next two days. … To make room for Voth on the roster, Washington optioned C Spencer Kieboom to Double-A Harrisburg. … RHP Justin Miller (rotator cuff strain) threw a scoreless inning for Harrisburg on Monday.

Orioles: OF/DH Mark Trumbo has been taking batting practice with the team, but the 33-year-old remains in recovery mode and isn’t really close to making his 2019 debut following off-season knee surgery. “We’re being optimistic that hopefully he can return at some point,” Hyde said.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Washington plans to recall RHP Erick Fedde (1-1, 3.79 ERA) to start the finale of the two-game series Wednesday night. Fedde has not pitched at any level since a July 2 start for Triple-A Fresno.

Orioles: Aaron Brooks (2-3, 4.75) makes his second start for the Orioles. The right-hander pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings against Tampa Bay last weekend, his first action in two weeks after being claimed on waivers from Oakland.

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