Carlos Santana kick-starts Guardians’ 8-run 6th in 8-6 win over Nationals

WASHINGTON AP Carlos Santana kick-started an eight-run sixth inning with a bases-clearing double and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Nationals - on Wednesday to win two of three at Washington in a -hour span The Guardians sent men to the plate in the sixth against Michael Soroka - and relievers Jorge Lopez and Andrew Chafin The first seven reached and all of them scored Leadoff man Steven Kwan scored twice in Cleveland s biggest inning of the season Before the sixth the Guardians had just two hits and eight strikeouts against Soroka who made his second start for the Nationals after straining his right biceps in his March debut But Cleveland rediscovered the relentless offense that produced nine runs in each match while splitting a doubleheader a day earlier After a rainout Monday the first meeting of Tuesday s twinbill began at p m and Wednesday s regularly scheduled matinee concluded at p m Gabriel Arias had four hits for Cleveland which has won seven of nine Joey Cantillo - worked a scoreless fifth and Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth for his eighth save Washington left runners on base Key moment Guardians reliever Cade Smith who gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday s first event entered in the seventh with a four-run advantage He allowed Amed Rosario s two-run single then loaded the bases before retiring Alex Call on a flyball to right to preserve an - lead Key stat Soroka s last scoreless outing of five innings or more was on July his debut in that COVID- -shortened season Up next Guardians Begin a three-game series against visiting Philadelphia on Friday night with Gavin Williams - ERA on the mound Nationals Host St Louis for a three-game series starting Friday night Mitchell Parker - is scheduled to start against the Cardinals Erick Fedde - AP MLB https apnews com hub mlb Source