Harry Ford drove in the winning run with an infield grounder and the Nationals survived another blown save to beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 in Washington on Saturday.
With one out, Daylen Lile was intentionally walked by Jose Fermin (4-3). Runners CJ Abrams and Lile executed a double steal and, with the infield in, shortstop Zach Neto booted Ford’s grounder and Abrams scored the winning run.
Jack Sinclair (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 inning for the win.
Washington tied it 5-5 against Ben Joyce in the ninth. After Jose Tena walked, James Wood struck out but Tena was running on the pitch and went to third when catcher Moises Ballesteros’s throw went into center. Andres Chaparro lined a single to center to score Tena with the tying tun.
Los Angeles trailed 4-0 entering the eighth. Mike Trout walked against Brad Lord with two outs and pinch hitter Wade Meckler doubled to right, scoring Trout. Vaughn Grissom homered to left and the Angels were within 4-3.
Oswald Peraza walked against Will Dion leading off the ninth. Denzer Guzman doubled down the left-field line to score Peraza with the tying run, went to third on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run on Ballesteros sacrifice fly.
The Nationals added to their Major League record with their 39th blown save of the season.
Keibert Ruiz had three hits for Washington.
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first when Abimelec Ortiz doubled with one out and scored on a two-out double by Abrams.
In the Washington second, Ruiz doubled with one out. Jacob Young singled with two outs and Ruiz was initially called out at home, but the call was overturned after Washington challenged. Wood singled Young to third and stole second. Ortiz then lined a single to right scoring both runners to make it 4-0.
Washington starter Andrew Alvarez tossed seven scoreless innings and did not allow a hit until Jose Siri doubled with one out in the sixth. He set new career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts (eight) while walking four
Los Angeles starter Walbert Urena gave up four runs on nine hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked two while throwing 101 pitches.
