Nationals 3, Rays 2
Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 en route to his sixth consecutive win as host Washington broke a four-game losing skid.
Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond had run-scoring singles during a three-run first inning for the Nationals.
Strasburg (9-1) allowed two runs, five hits and two walks in seven innings. He has struck out 10 or more batters three times this season and six times in his career.
Sean Burnett pitched the eighth and Tyler Clippard struck out two in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 opportunities.
Chris Archer (0-1) made his first career start for Tampa Bay and gave up just three hits, all in the first inning before settling down.
Steve Lombardozzi led off the first with a double and scored on Harper’s single. Harper took second on the throw and then scored when Rays shortstop Elliot Johnson made a throwing error trying to retire him at third on Ryan Zimmerman’s grounder. Two outs later, Desmond singled in Zimmerman.
Tampa Bay got on the board on Jose Molina’s homer in the second and pulled within 3-2 in the third on a run-scoring single by Hideki Matsui.
Archer gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Strasburg leads the majors with 110 strikeouts. … Rays reliever Joel Peralta got two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Peralta was ejected from Tuesday’s game after pine tar was discovered in his glove. … Zimmerman was hitless in three at-bats and is 4-for-36 over the last nine games. … Tampa Bay outfielder Matt Joyce (back) sat out after injuring himself on a swing in Tuesday’s game.