Daylen Lile finished a triple short of the cycle, Zack Littell pitched five scoreless innings and the Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Friday night in Washington to open a three-game series.
Lile has four homers in his past four games, including two on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
Littell, signed as a free agent in March, allowed two hits while striking out three with two walks in his best start of the season. He improved to 2-4 and lowered his ERA from 6.94 to 6.10.
Andrew Alvarez, recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, relieved Littell and pitched into the ninth, then left after the first two runners reached base. Gus Varland walked pinch hitter Leody Taveras to load the bases, but struck out Colby Mayo and retired Jeremiah Jackson on a sacrifice fly.
Richard Lovelady came on and gave up an RBI single to Gunnar Henderson and walked Taylor Ward before striking out Adley Rutschman for his second save.
Baltimore starter Shane Baz (1-5) went seven solid innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked three while throwing a season-high 108 pitches.
In the second inning, a two-out walk by Colton Cowser gave the Orioles runners on first and second, but Littell struck out Mayo.
Lile doubled leading off the bottom half and Jorbit Vivas drew a one-out walk, but Baz retired Drew Millas and Jacob Young.
In the fourth, CJ Abrams singled, went to third on Lile’s single and scored on Brady House’s sacrifice fly to short right.
Henderson’s double off the right field wall put runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, but Littell got Ward to ground out.
In the sixth, Curtis Mead walked, then with one out, Lile homered to right on an 0-1 pitch to make it 3-0.
Mayo singled with two outs in the seventh and Jackson doubled him to third. Alvarez struck out Henderson to end the threat.
James Wood lined a single off shortstop Henderson’s foot with one out in the seventh, but Baz ended his night by retiring Luis Garcia and Mead on fly balls.
