Washington Nationals win sixth straight, 8-2 over Cleveland Indians tonight in D.C.

Austin Voth put together another impressive outing (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 5 Ks), and the Nationals’ offense put up eight runs on the Cleveland Indians, with Gerardo Parra driving in four with a two-run double in the second, sac fly in the sixth, and solo home run in the eighth in a 3 for 3 game. Asdrubal Cabrera drove in two with a double in the sixth, and Trea Turner hit a two-run homer later in the sixth inning in an 8-2 win in Washington.

Voth vs Cleveland: In eight appearances (seven starts) and 37 ²⁄₃ innings on the mound this season heading into tonight’s outing against the Indians, Nationals’ righty Austin Voth had a 3.35 ERA, 13 walks, 39 strikeouts and .a 226/.305/.423 line against, and the 27-year-old was coming off three consecutive outings in which he allowed two runs or fewer.

Voth retired the first six batters he faced tonight, on 24 pitches, but gave up a leadoff single by Greg Allen in the Indians’ third, and an RBI double (by Ryan Flaherty), sac bunt (by the opposing pitcher, Zach Plesac), and sac fly (by Francisco Lindor) followed as Cleveland tied things up at 2-2 in the series opener in D.C.

Voth held the Indians there through five, with a 10-pitch fourth, and 17-pitch, 1-2-3 fifth that left him at 61 pitches total on the night, in what still a 2-2 game, and he came back out with a scoreless, 14-pitch sixth before he was done with his outing.

Austin Voth’s Line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 Ks, 73 P, 43 S, 5/3 GO/FO.

Plesac vs Washington: Indians’ right-hander Zach Plesac, 24, has had an up and down month of September, giving up eight hits and six earned runs in five innings on the hill against the White Sox, then tossing a complete game shutout against the Angels, and surrendering five hits and four earned runs in 4 ¹⁄₃ IP against the Phillies.

On the season, the 2016 12th Round pick, who made his debut in the majors in late May, had put up a 3.82 ERA, 39 walks, 82 Ks, and a .234/.305/.441 line against in 110 ²⁄₃ innings before his start tonight in Nationals Park.

Plesac tossed a scoreless, 1-2-3 first tonight, but a one-out hit by Howie Kendrick, two-out single by Kurt Suzuki, and a two-run double by Gerardo Parra in the bottom of the second got the Nationals out to a 2-0 lead.

Plesac’s teammates rallied to tie it up at 2-2 in the top of the third, and the rookie righty held the Nationals there through five innings, before he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth.

Zach Plesac’s Line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 Ks, 74 P, 49 S, 3/2 GO/FO.

Suzuki’s Back!: Kurt Suzuki made his first start behind the plate since September 7th tonight, returning to catching after injuring his elbow on a throw second in Atlanta.

Going into the game, the backstop had hit safely in nine of his last 14 games with four doubles, four home runs, 18 RBIs, two walks, and 10 runs scored over that stretch, and on the season, the 35-year-old, 13-year veteran had reached base in 55 of his 68 starts with hits in 45 of 68 going into tonight’s game.

Suzuki went 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored in his return to the lineup. Welcome back, Zuk!

BULLPEN ACTION: Nick Goody took over on the mound for the Indians in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a leadoff walk to Juan Soto, a one-out infield single by Matt Adams, a walk to Kurt Suzuki, sac fly by Gerardo Parra, 3-2, and a two-run double by Asdrúbal Cabrera, 5-2, before he was lifted.

Adam Cimber took over for the Indians and gave up a two-run home run to left field by Trea Turner on the second pitch he threw, 7-2. Turner’s 19th of 2019.

Hunter Strickland came on in the seventh, with a five-run lead, and worked around a two-out double in a 14-pitch frame.

James Karnichak gave up a leadoff walk to Anthony Rendon (who walked more than he K’d in college) in the bottom of the seventh, but stranded him at second three outs later.

Wander Suero made quick work of the Indians in a 16-pitch, 1-2-3 eighth.

Gerardo Parra was 3 for 3 with a two-run double, solo home run, and four RBIs after he hit one out to right off Dan Otero with one out in the eighth, 8-2.

Tanner Rainey retired the Indians in order in the top of the ninth to end it.

Ballgame.

Final Score: 8-2 Nationals

Nationals now 91-69