Ashcraft Shows He's Human Luis Garcia Powers Nationals To A Series Win

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Graham Ashcraft had an ERA of 0.57 after he retired nine straight Cardinals hitters in his last outing.

Luis Garcia hit a home run, the first against Ashcraft this season as the Washington Nationals snagged the final game of the series, 4-1.

"He left a couple pitches where he didn't want to. He kind of proved that he's human. You're going to give up runs. That's how the game is," Terry Francona said.

Nick Martinez and MacKenzie Gore battled for five innings.

Nathaniel Lowe doubled to lead off the second inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Luis Garcia Jr.

Tyler Stephenson the game with his first home run of the season, leading off the bottom of the second.

"He threw me a curve ball that he left up," Stephenson said. "I'm trying to get pitches I'm supposed to hit and be on time for them. When I was rehabbing from the oblique, the thought in my mind was don't reinjure it but my first game back I checked a swing and fouled one off, so it checked some boxes. I knew I would be ok."

Reds thought they had a two-run lead when a line drive by Elly De La Cruz cleared the left field fence near the foul pole. Third base umpire Sean Barber signaled fair ball but it was overturned on a crew chief review. De La Cruz walked during the at bat to extend his on-base streak to 23 games.

"I didn't let myself get to overboard there because I thought it was foul," Francona said. "For a second I thought maybe it hit the foul pole. We called right away so we knew."

Gore pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits.

Martinez pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out six. It was the second quality start in a row and he missed a third straight with 5 2/3 innings in Miami.

"I got into a rhythm with my mechanics. I felt free and was able to attack the zone," Martinez said. "Even my misses were pretty good."

Ashcraft took over in the seventh. 

Garcia hit the home run, his third. singles by Alex Call and Dylan Crews set up a two-run double by CJ Abrams to give Washington a 4-1 lead. The runs were charged to Ashcraft but it was Taylor Rogers that allowed the double on an 0-2 pitch.