CLEVELAND, June 14 (UPI) -- Drew Stubbs raced home with the winning run on a ninth-inning grounder Friday, giving Cleveland a 2-1 triumph over Washington.
The Indians loaded the bases with one out in the eighth without scoring, but they came through in the ninth against Fernando Abad (0-1).
Abad's major league record over parts of four seasons fell to 1-11.
Stubbs reached on a one-out single in the ninth and moved to third on a base hit by Michael Bourn.
Jason Kipnis then hit a sharp grounder to first that Adam LaRoche speared going to his left. LaRoche threw from his knees in a bid to get Stubbs at the plate, but the Cleveland right fielder slid under the tag to end the game.
Cleveland's only other run came in the fourth on a Ryan Raburn homer that tied the contest. Washington scored in the third on a wild pitch by Cleveland starter Justin Masterson.
The Nationals managed only two hits in losing for the first time in three games. Cleveland has won three in a row on the heels of an eight-game losing streak.
The win went to Joe Smith (3-0), who struck out one while working a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.
