The Sports Xchange
Jun 10, 2017
WASHINGTON -- Robinson Chirinos hit a three-run homer off Shawn Kelley with two out in the top of the 11th as the Texas Rangers beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Saturday.
It was the seventh homer of the season for the catcher, who had a game-tying long ball in the eighth inning on Wednesday against the New York Mets. The homer scored Joey Gallo, who had doubled with two out, and Nomar Mazara, who was given an intentional walk before the game-winning blast.
The losing pitcher was Kelley (3-2), while Keone Kela (3-1) got the win as he went two scoreless innings. The first-place Nationals (38-23) are 17-11 at home while Texas (29-32) is 11-18 on the road.
Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew led off the ninth with a double for Washington. Pinch-runner Wilmer Difo went to third on a groundout but was tagged out in a rundown for the third out after speedy Trea Turner tried to bunt for a base hit with two out.
Shin-Soo Choo led off the Texas ninth with a homer to trim the deficit to 3-2 off closer Koda Glover. Elvis Andrus singled, Adrian Beltre walked and Mazara had a double to score Andrus and tie the game at 3-3.
Chirinos then flew out to right fielder Bryce Harper and his throw to home appeared late to catch a sliding pinch-runner Pete Kozma. But the Nationals challenged the call and Kozma was ruled out as the game remained tied.
Washington lefty Oliver Perez took over for Glover and retired Rougned Odor for the final out of the ninth.
Adam Lind (two hits) had a two-run homer in the sixth to give the Nationals a 3-1 lead.
Washington trailed 1-0 before Anthony Rendon hit a sacrifice fly to score Harper, who led off with a double and went to third on a single by Daniel Murphy in the sixth.
It was the fifth home run in 73 at-bats for Lind, who got the start at first base in place of Ryan Zimmerman. The homer came off righty reliever Tony Barnette, who came on for lefty starter Martin Perez.
Washington starter Gio Gonzalez allowed one run and three hits and struck out nine in six innings for the Nationals.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Andrus drove in a run on a groundout. Andrus extended his league-best hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the first.
Martin Perez gave up seven hits and two runs in five-plus innings. Maryland native Delino DeShields and Andrus had two hits for Texas. Murphy, Michael A. Taylor and Ryan Raburn each had two hits for the Nationals.
NOTES: Texas 3B Adrian Beltre (1-for-3 with a walk) was in the starting lineup for the Rangers after missing the previous two games. He landed awkwardly on first base while running out a ground ball Tuesday. ... Rangers 3B coach Tony Beasley grew up in central Virginia, played in college at Liberty University and is a former coach for the Nationals. ... Washington pitching coach Mike Maddux held the same job for the Rangers from 2009 to 2015. ... The Nationals will pick No. 25 and Texas No. 26 in the first round of the Major League First-Year Player Draft on Monday. Darren Baker, son of Nationals manager Dusty Baker, is eligible as a standout prep senior from California. The younger Baker has committed to play college ball at California.