The Sports Xchange
Aug 16, 2017
WASHINGTON -- Kole Calhoun belted a two-run homer to right and Ricky Nolasco picked up a rare road win as the Los Angeles Angels earned a split of a two-game interleague series with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon.
It was the 14th homer of the year for Calhoun, who went deep against starter Tanner Roark to make it 3-2. Nolasco (6-12) left the game for an undisclosed reason in the sixth inning with two outs and a 2-2 count on catcher Jose Lobaton. Nolasco picked up his first win road win since June 26 against the Dodgers.
The Angels led 3-2 when the right-hander left the game. He allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Nolasco, who was replaced by Jesse Chavez, entered the game with a 5.24 ERA. Angels rookie Keynan Middleton pitched a scoreless eighth and Cam Bedrosian worked the ninth for his sixth save as he retired Howie Kendrick for the last out with a runner on third after nearly throwing a wild pitch.
Roark (9-8) went seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Ryan Zimmerman hit his 28th homer of the year, a two-run shot in the first, to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.
It was the fourth homer for Zimmerman in 54 at-bats against Nolasco, a former member of the Marlins starting rotation. Nolasco gave up his major league-leading 31st homer of the season to Zimmerman, who singled in the eighth but was thrown out at third after Adam Lind reached on an error to stymie a threat.
The Nationals also left the bases loaded in the fourth as Wilmer Difo, who had singled in his first two at-bats, struck out off Nolasco. Luis Valbuena, who doubled in the second, hit a solo homer in the fifth just over the fence in center to pull the Angels to within 2-1 against Roark.
The Angels, who have won seven of eight, are 62-59 while the first-place Nationals are 71-47.
NOTES: Washington OF Brian Goodwin (left groin strain) went on the disabled list Wednesday and the Nationals called up OF Alejandro de Aza from Triple-A Syracuse. In addition, SS Trea Turner (right wrist fracture) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. ... Angels LHP Andrew Heaney (left elbow UCL injury) will make his 2017 debut when he starts Friday in Baltimore. "We are excited to have him back," manager Mike Scioscia said. ... Washington RHP Edwin Jackson (3-2, 3.86 ERA) will start Thursday in San Diego against Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (11-8, 4.06). ... Angels OF Ben Revere played in 103 games last season for Washington. He started Wednesday and was 0-for-4.