CLEVELAND (AP) – Stephen Strasburg shut down Cleveland for seven innings and bounced back from his only loss this season, leading the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the Indians on Wednesday.
Strasburg (14-1) began the season with 13 straight wins before he was beaten by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 21. The powerful right-hander shook off that blemish, holding the Indians to three hits as the Nationals recovered after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth and losing on Tuesday night.
Washington rookie Trea Turner drove in three runs and Daniel Murphy hit his 20th homer off Carlos Carrasco (7-4), who nearly matched Strasburg but was done in by one bad inning.
Nationals reliever Blake Treinen stopped Cleveland’s threat in the ninth, getting a game-ending double play for his major league save.
Strasburg had little trouble handling the AL Central-leading Indians, who came in with the majors’ best record since June 1 but couldn’t generate enough offense against the Nationals’ $175 million ace. He was in control from the outset and made Washington’s 2-0 lead over the first five innings feel like the score was 10-0.