Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Roger Bernadina celebrated his 26th birthday by going 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored as Washington shut down Cleveland, 9-4, in the finale of this three-game interleague set.
Ian Desmond contributed three hits and knocked in two and Ivan Rodriguez added two hits and drove in a pair for the Nationals, who salvaged a game in the series.
In his second big-league start, Stephen Strasburg (2-0) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run while fanning eight but walking five.
Shin-Soo Choo hit a late two-run single while Travis Hafner homered and Luis Valbuena added an RBI for the Indians, who had won four straight.
David Huff (2-8) was tagged in the loss for six hits and as many runs over 5 2/3 frames.
Washington got on the board in the second on doubles by Adam Dunn and Mike Morse, but Cleveland countered in the home half on Hafner’s line-drive homer to right.
Dunn ripped a ball into the seats in right for a 2-1 Nats edge in the fourth, and Washington threw up four more runs in the sixth to take control.
Dunn walked with two outs, and Josh Willingham doubled leading up to a two-run double from Rodriguez. Morse walked and Frank Herrmann came on, only to give up a two-run triple from Desmond.
Cleveland got to Strasburg in the sixth when Carlos Santana singled and both Hafner and Austin Kearns walked. The Tribe left the bases loaded without scoring after Drew Storen retired Russell Branyan on a pop out and fanned Jhonny Peralta.
Bernadina hit a two-run blast in the eighth, and after Desmond singled, Alberto Gonzalez drove him in with a double for a 9-1 game.
The Indians made a brief rally in the ninth against Miguel Batista, scoring three times on an RBI single by Valbuena and a two-run hit from Choo. Tyler Clippard quelled the uprising by getting Santana on a fly out and Hafner on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Strasburg now has allowed six hits and three runs, with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 12 1/3 innings…Dunn finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored…Cristian Guzman added three hits for Washington…Both teams continue interleague play on Tuesday as Washington heads to Detroit and Cleveland hosts the Mets.