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Stephen Strasburg sends Washington Nationals to share of NL East title

By David Driver, The Sports Xchange
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg was instrumental in Sunday's key win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg was instrumental in Sunday's key win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg allowed just two hits in eight scoreless innings and Trea Turner had a triple and home run as the Washington Nationals clinched at least a share of the National League East title with a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Washington would clinch its fourth title since 2012 should Miami fall in Atlanta later on Sunday.

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Strasburg threw his second career shutout and complete game in his previous start at home, against the Marlins on Aug. 30.

Strasburg (13-4) has not allowed a run in his last 34 innings, setting a Montreal/Washington franchise record. The right-hander from San Diego struck out 10 and walked one while throwing 108 pitches, with 76 strikes. Former Phillie Ryan Madson pitched the ninth to get his first save with the Nationals despite allowing a two-run single by Nick Williams to make it 3-2.

Turner led off the sixth with a triple and scored on a double to left by Adrian Sanchez for a 1-0 lead. Victor Robles had his first major league hit, a double, to drive in Sanchez later in the inning for a 2-0 margin against Phillies starter Ben Lively.

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Turner hit a solo homer in the eighth to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead. It was the ninth homer of the year for Turner. Sanchez also singled in the eighth for his second hit.

Lively (3-6) gave up three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in eight innings despite throwing a complete game.

Strasburg did not allow a hit until a single to left in the fifth by Maikel Franco, who also had the Phillies' second hit with a single in the seventh. But Strasburg got Aaron Altherr to ground into a sparkling double play started by Sanchez at third base.

The Nationals (88-55) have won five of six while the Phillies (54-89) have lost seven of their last 10 games.

NOTES: Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (14-6, 2.50 ERA) will start at home Tuesday against Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (10-11, 4.77). ... Phillies RHP Nick Pivetta (5-10, 6.49) will start Tuesday against Marlins LHP Dillon Peters (0-1, 2.25) in Philadelphia. ... Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman, CF Michael A. Taylor, 2B Daniel Murphy, 3B Anthony Rendon and C Matt Wieters were not in the starting lineup. ... Phillies manager Pete Mackanin was drafted in the fourth round by the Washington Senators in 1969.

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