The Washington Nationals (39-43) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (41-42) 8-1 on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The Rays fell once again to a game under .500 on the season.
Both teams traded runs in the first inning - after CJ Abrams hit a solo homer in the top of the first, Brandon Lowe hit a solo homer of his own in the bottom of the first to make it 1-1.
Washington got one back in the second inning off a wild pitch from Aaron Civale (2-6, 5.07) to take the lead. Civale finished the game allowing two earned runs on six hits in five and two-third innings of work while striking out two and walking four.
The Nationals blew the game open in the seventh inning when they got six runs off reliever Shawn Armstrong to turn the game into an 8-1 blowout.
The Rays will look to bounce back and win the series from the Nationals coming up on Sunday afternoon. Taj Bradley (2-4, 3.81) is scheduled to start for the Rays against Patrick Corbin (1-7, 5.46) for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 PM - pregame coverage begins with Chris Adams-Wall hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at high noon on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES