The Associated Press
WASHINGTON–Stephen Strasburg already was enjoying one of the best pitching performances of his career when he added another memorable moment: a go-ahead home run.
Strasburg tossed a complete game six-hitter in addition to his fifth-inning shot, and Wilmer Difo added a home run, as the Washington Nationals blanked the Miami Marlins 4-0 yesterday to complete a three-game sweep.
“He was determined from the beginning,” said Washington manager Dusty Baker. “You could tell by the look on his face.
“He had a great day,” Baker added. “It was his day today. He hit, he pitched.”
Washington, which now has won four-straight, extended its lead in the NL East to 15 games over the Marlins.
The Marlins had no answer for Strasburg (11-4), who struck out eight.
It was just Strasburg’s second complete game in 179 starts and his first since Aug. 11, 2013 against Philadelphia.
Strasburg is 1-1 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts since returning from a disabled list stint for right-elbow nerve impingement.
“We were pretty much overmatched today,” said Miami manager Don Mattingly.
Miami left-hander Adam Conley (6-6) made it through the first four innings unscathed before Strasburg launched the first pitch of the fifth to right-centre for his second home run this season and third of his career.
“We haven’t had BP in such a long time, I really didn’t have high expectations for not having picked up a bat . . . since my start in San Diego [on Aug. 19],” Strasburg noted.
“I don’t know. Sometimes you’re just lucky.”
Two batters later, Difo connected for his fifth homer of the year.
The Nationals outscored Miami 23-5 during the series, and the Marlins were just 1-for-22 with runners in scoring position over the three games.
“Nothing really went right for us as far as getting runs across,” Mattingly said.
Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 51 home runs and has 18 this month, went 0-for-4 yesterday.
Anthony Rendon had a two-out RBI double in the seventh before Alejandro De Aza scored on a passed ball in the eighth to pad Washington’s lead.
J.T. Realmuto had three hits for the Marlins, who went 2-8 at Nationals Park this season.
Miami, which had won 13-of-16 prior to arriving in Washington, had not dropped three-straight since July 14-16.
“I think we just keep going,” Conley said. “Three games at their place against the team leading our division doesn’t outweigh how long we’ve been playing good baseball.
“We had to climb back quite a ways from however many months ago when people were writing us off,” he added.
“It’s just three games.”
Elsewhere in the NL, Milwaukee edged St. Louis 6-5, New York beat Cincinnati 2-0, Chicago routed Pittsburgh 17-3, San Diego blanked San Francisco 5-0, and Arizona downed L.A. 6-4.
Atlanta swept a doubleheader from Philadelphia, winning 9-1 and 5-2.
Detroit beat Colorado 6-2 in interleague play.
