WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Luinder Avila rebounded from a rough outing to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon at Nationals Park. Avila allowed one earned run over 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and scattering three hits, to improve to 2-3. The Royals powered ahead early with four solo home runs. Carter Jensen homered in the first, John Rave in the second, and Lane Thomas and Michael Massey went back-to-back in the third. Kansas City added two runs in the sixth on a sacrifice bunt by Isaac Collins and a single by Bobby Witt Jr. Washington matched with two runs in the bottom half, keyed by CJ Abrams’ RBI double and a run-scoring single from Dylan Crews, but the rally ended on a throw from Rave to shortstop Witt. Zack Littell took the loss, falling to 6-6, after allowing four earned runs over five innings. Jensen finished 4 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Attendance was 17,643, and the game lasted 2 hours, 49 minutes. The Royals improved to 30-45; the Nationals dropped to 39-36.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Kansas City Royals erupted for three home runs in the first three innings and held on for a 6-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon at Nationals Park, snapping a two-game losing streak in the series. Royals left-hander Luinder Avila, making his seventh start of the season, allowed two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings to improve to 2-3. He struck out five and walked one, departing after a two-run Nationals rally in the sixth but receiving enough support from an offense that banged out 12 hits. Washington starter Zack Littell (6-6) lasted only three innings, giving up four runs on five hits — all four runs coming on solo home runs — while striking out one and walking none. The Nationals bullpen of Mitchell Parker, Paxton Schultz and PJ Poulin held Kansas City to two runs over the final six innings, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. The most decisive sequence came in the top of the third inning, when the Royals struck for back-to-back homers to push their lead to 4-0. After Jac Caglianone lined out to first baseman Luis García Jr., Lane Thomas launched a fly ball to center field for his fifth home run of the season. Michael Massey followed immediately with a seventh homer, also to center, giving Kansas City a four-run cushion before Washington recorded its third out. Kansas City had already set the tone in the first inning. Catcher Carter Jensen led off the game with a ninth home run to right field, putting the Royals ahead 1-0. After Bobby Witt Jr. grounded out and Caglianone singled, the rally stalled when Thomas lined out and Massey flied out. The Royals added another run in the second inning when John Rave, making his first start of the season, hit a line-drive home run to center — his first career major league homer. Nick Loftin walked and Isaac Collins flied out, but Jensen singled to put runners at first and second before Witt popped out to end the inning. Washington’s offense struggled to generate consistent threats against Avila early. In the bottom of the third, the Nationals put two runners on after Keibert Ruiz singled and Nasim Nuñez singled, but both were stranded when James Wood grounded out and Luis García Jr. lined out. The Royals extended their lead in the sixth inning. Rave tripled to right field and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Collins. Jensen singled, and Witt singled to drive in Collins, making it 6-0. The inning ended when Caglianone lined into an unassisted double play, with García doubling off Witt at first. Washington answered in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Curtis Mead walked. CJ Abrams followed with a double to center, scoring Mead to cut the lead to 6-1. One batter later, Dylan Crews singled to right, scoring Abrams. Crews was thrown out attempting to take second base on a strong throw from right fielder Rave to shortstop Witt, ending the inning with the score 6-2. The Nationals threatened again in the eighth when Nuñez singled, but James Wood grounded into a double play, and García grounded out. In the ninth, Washington put the leadoff batter on when Mead was hit by a pitch, but Abrams popped out, Crews lined out and Daylen Lile flied out to seal the win. Kansas City’s bullpen held strong after Avila’s exit. Lucas Erceg pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out one and allowing no hits. The Royals did not commit any errors and turned a double play. Washington’s top offensive performers included Nuñez, who went 2 for 3, and Abrams, who drove in a run with his 14th double of the season. Ruiz had one hit and José Tena went 1 for 3. For Kansas City, Jensen finished 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and two runs scored. Rave went 2 for 4 with a triple, a home run and two runs scored. Thomas and Massey each homered, and Witt had two hits and an RBI. The game was played before a crowd of 17,643 and lasted 2 hours, 49 minutes. The Royals improved to 30-45 on the season, while the Nationals fell to 39-36. Kansas City avoided a three-game sweep after losing the first two contests of the series, 6-4 on Tuesday and 7-3 on Monday. The Royals return home to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, while the Nationals travel to Tampa Bay to open a three-game set against the Rays on Friday. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Washington Nationals 7, Kansas City Royals 3, and its ELO system gave Washington a 53.90 percent probability to win. Kansas City was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of eight runs went over the over-under line of 9.5.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals aim for a series sweep Wednesday evening against the Kansas City Royals at Nationals Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies and 80 degrees. Washington (38-35) has taken the first two games of this three-game set, winning 7-3 on Monday and 3-1 on Tuesday. The Nationals have won five of their last six overall, including a weekend sweep of Seattle. Kansas City (29-44) has dropped four straight and eight of its last 10. The Royals are expected to start right-hander Zack Littell (6-5) or right-hander Luinder Avila (1-3); the club has not confirmed its probable pitcher. Washington’s starter was not announced. Both bullpens could play a significant role. Royals reliever Beck Way, a player to watch, has been effective in his last two outings: 2 scoreless innings Monday against Washington with two strikeouts, and 2 scoreless innings June 11 against Texas with four strikeouts. However, he allowed four earned runs in one-third of an inning June 7 at Minnesota. For Washington, left-handed reliever Andrew Alvarez has been sharp. He earned the win Monday against Kansas City, allowing one earned run on five hits over four innings with five strikeouts. In his previous four appearances, Alvarez has posted a 2.35 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 15 1/3 innings. The Nationals’ offense has received contributions from rookie outfielder Dylan Crews, who hit a three-run homer in Monday’s win. Washington’s most productive player in Monday’s game was Alvarez (4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K), followed by Crews (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and right-hander Brad Lord (3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 K). Kansas City’s most productive player in Monday’s loss was third baseman Maikel Garcia (1-for-4, 2 RBI), along with relievers Way (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K) and Mason Black (2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER). The Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Washington win. Despite Kansas City’s struggles, the Royals have been installed as a -1.5 favorite on the run line. The over/under is 9.5. Following this series, the Royals return home to face St. Louis on Thursday, while the Nationals travel to Tampa Bay for a three-game set beginning Friday.