Soto returns, Nats beat Rays 5-3 to finish 2-game sweep

WASHINGTON (AP) — Juan Soto drove in a run in his return to the lineup and the Washington Nationals used strong relief pitching to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Tuesday night to sweep the two-game series.

After missing five games with left elbow soreness, Juan Soto was back in the lineup as the designated hitter for just the second time this season. The 21-year old drove in a run in his first at-bat with a groundout to third in the first.

Soto finished 1 for 2 with two intentional walks and a run.

Soto said he wasn’t sure how he originally hurt his elbow but that he now feels good. He’s also feeling good about the intentional walks that he’s drawing even if it means he can’t add to his team-leading 11 homers.

“Respect,” Soto said, adding “I feel good about it. Every time I can be on base, I try and help.”

The AL East-leading Rays had won or split their past 10 series before dropping both games against the Nationals. The teams will meet for another two-game set in Tampa Bay on Sept. 15-16.

“These last two days, we can’t find any consistency, any rhythm in our lineup,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ve got a handful of guys that are just not being themselves for whatever reason.”

Carter Kieboom drove in Brock Holt with a two-out double in the second to increase the Nationals’ lead to 2-0. It was Kieboom’s first extra-base hit of the season and first career double.

The Nationals added two more in the third when Trea Turner scored on a sac-fly to left by Asdrúbal Cabrera and Soto came home on a two-out single to left by Josh Harrison to put the Nationals up 4-0.

Tampa Bay left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (0-3) returned from the injured list and had his shortest outing of the season in going 2 2/3 innings while allowing four runs and six...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Soto-returns-Nats-beat-Rays-5-3-to-finish-2-game-15551690.php