Trevor Williams and four relievers combined on a six-hit shutout as the Washington Nationals beat the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Williams (3-0) pitched five scoreless innings despite allowing five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Derek Law, Dylan Floro and Hunter Harvey combined for three scoreless innings before Kyle Finnegan struck out the side in the ninth for his 10th save.
Williams was able to navigate through the heavy traffic by stranding eight baserunners. The Rangers loaded the bases with no outs twice against Williams, but failed to score a run in each case.
Nick Senzel had two hits for Washington, which bounced back from a 7-1 loss in the opener of the three-game series on Monday.
Texas outhit the Nationals 6-5 but was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Rangers stranded 11 baserunners and were shut out for the third time this season.
Washington scored the lone run of the game in the second inning against Andrew Heaney (0-4). Ildemaro Vargas hit a one-out double and scored on Alex Call’s single to left field.
Heaney allowed one run on four hits over a season-high seven innings. He struck out four with zero walks.
Williams escaped his first jam in the bottom of the second inning. After Williams allowed three straight singles to begin the inning, Wyatt Lankford grounded into a fielder’s choice, Jonah Heim struck out, and Leody Taveras grounded out.
Texas threatened again in the fifth inning after loading the bases with no outs before Nathaniel Lowe grounded into a fielder’s choice, Adolis Garcia struck out, and Evan Carter flied out.
Williams has pitched at least five innings and allowed no more than three runs in all six of his starts this season.
The Rangers put two runners on with two outs in the seventh inning but came up empty again after Harvey struck out Garcia on five pitches.
Washington recorded its third shutout and improved to 13-9 since April 7.
Washington shortstop CJ Abrams went 0-for-4, ending his streak of reaching base safely at a career-high 16 straight games.
–Field Level Media