Jonathan Lucroy powers Rangers to Win at Nationals

Texas Rangers' Jonathan Lucroy 25) celebrates his two-run home run with Shin-Soo Choo, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, June 9, 2017, in Washington. ( Nick Wass-AP Photo)

C Jonathan Lucroy powers the Texas Rangers (28-32) to a 5-2 win at the Washington Nationals (38-22) in the opener of their three-game series.

The Rangers took the lead in the third inning. Three consecutive singles from SS Elvis Andrus, LF Nomar Mazara and Jonathan Lucroy resulted in a run by Elvis Andrus.

Texas extended their lead in the fifth. RF Shin-soo Choo reached on 1B Ryan Zimmerman’s fielding errot to lead off the inning. Two outs later Jonathan Lucroy hit a home run to put the Rangers up 3-0. It was his fourth long ball of the season.

The Rangers added another run in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with 1B Joey Gallo, who reached on a fielding error by SS Trea Turner, a single by CF Delino DeShields and a one-out walk to Sin-soo Choo. Nomar Mazara then drew another walk with two outs and Joey Gallo came home for a 4-0 lead.

The Nationals finally got on the board in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Zimmerman doubled with one out and crossed home plate on a two-out single by 3B Anthony Rendon.

Texas got that run right back in the seventh when 2B Rougned Odor led off the inning with his ninth homer of the year.

The Nationals tried to rally in the ninth inning but managed to score only one run. With two outs and 2B Daniel Murphy and CF Michael A. Taylor at the corners PH Stephen Drew hit a high fly ball into centerfield. What looked like an easy out, the ball dropped between Nomar Mazara and CF Jared Hoying for an RBI-single.

Texas’ SP Andrew Cashner (3-5) pitched 7 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 1 earned run while striking out 4. He now has a 3.17 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP this season.

Washington’s SP Tanner Roark (6-3) went 6 innings, giving up 11 hits, 2 walks and 2 earned runs while fanning 4. He now posts a 3.87 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP on the year.

Jonathan Lucroy went 3-for-4 with 1 run, 1 HR and 3 RBI. He is batting .268 and has 12 runs, 4 HR and 16 RBI in 2017.