Cade Cavalli recorded his first major-league win after tossing seven scoreless innings, fueling the host Washington Nationals to a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
Making his fourth career start and third in his return from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli (1-0) scattered seven hits and struck out five without walking a batter. The first-round pick of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma fanned Edmundo Sosa on five pitches to end his outing.
Washington’s James Wood ripped a two-run double with two outs in the fifth inning to provide all the offense that the 27-year-old Cavalli would need.
Josh Bell had two of the seven hits for the Nationals, who have won three of their last four games overall and improved to 4-5 in the season series against the National League East-leading Phillies.
Dylan Crews worked a one-out walk in the fifth inning and advanced to third on a single by Brady House. Wood ripped a 3-2 fastball from Taijuan Walker (4-6) into the right-center field gap to plate Crews and House and stake Washington to a 2-0 lead.
Cavalli kept Philadelphia at bay before being relieved by Jose Ferrer, who retired the first four batters he faced before J.T. Realmuto slapped a single into left that outfielder Wood misplayed.
Ferrer, however, induced Brandon Marsh to ground out and struck out Harrison Bader to secure his second save of the season.
Philadelphia’s Trea Turner recorded his second three-hit performance of the series. He is 8-for-14 in the set and riding a six-game hitting streak.
The Phillies, however, went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left six on base en route to losing for the fourth time in their last five outings.
Walker was saddled with the hard-luck loss despite permitting two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
