BALTIMORE – Nationals starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson doesn’t throw very hard. But closer Sean Doolittle does.
That pitching combination, along with three other hurlers, was a strong recipe for a victory on Tuesday night as the Washington Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
The Nationals tied a franchise record with nine road wins in a row and, at 31-22, are a season-high nine games over .500.
“We’ve played a lot of one-run games, but I love it when you play that well on the road,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.
Doolittle recorded his 12th save of the season, even though he hit a batter and allowed a single in the last of the ninth against the last-place Orioles (17-38). He struck out two batters in one inning of work.
“I really wanted to get ahead in the count first and foremost,” Doolittle said. “I am not necessarily thinking about strikeouts. Tonight those came by execution of pitches. You want to get out of (the jam) real quick. You have to slow down.”
Hellickson, who relies on keeping the ball down, went five innings and allowed just two runs to improve to 2-0. Hellickson was signed late in spring training after pitching last season for Philadelphia and Baltimore.
“I just had a little bit of motivation the way the offseason played out,” Hellickson said. “I would have liked to pitch a little better from last year. I enjoyed my time there. It’s a good clubhouse.”
Hellickson had a 6.31 ERA in 10 starts last season for the Orioles.
“He has been great,” outfielder Bryce Harper said of Hellickson. “We got him late (in spring training). He is doing it all for us. He is doing his job. I think our bullpen came in and threw great. Big game for us right there. We just have to keep going.”
The victory was even sweeter as he beat his former team and at hitter-friendly Camden Yards.
“There are not too many parks that are worse” to pitch in, said Hellickson, with a smirk.
The offense was paced by Harper and rookie Juan Soto, who each had three hits.
Harper hit a home run in the first inning and Washington first baseman Mark Reynolds went deep in the fourth against his former team.
Soto also had the first outfield assist of his big league career to prevent the Orioles from tying the game in the fifth inning.
The 19-year-old left fielder also drew his first intentional walk, had his first stolen base and had the first three-hit game since joining Washington from Double-A Harrisburg. He began the season with the low-A Hagerstown Suns.
“All I can say is he’s done well,” Martinez said. “And he’s going to get a chance to play every day. He’s proved that he can do it and we love having him.”
“He’s keeping his head down and playing ball,” Harper said of Soto.
And so are the Nationals, who will go for the three-game sweep with ace Max Scherzer on the mound Wednesday night in Baltimore.
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