Zach Eflin works 6 scoreless innings, Jose Siri homers twice and the Rays beat the Nationals 3-1

Tampa Bay Rays starter Zach Eflin pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zach Eflin worked six scoreless innings, Jose Siri homered twice and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Friday night.

Washington Nationals starter Mitchell Parker pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

The Rays' Yandy Díaz singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to a team-record 20 games, surpassing Jason Bartlett's mark set in 2009. Tampa Bay was the only team not to have a player with a 20-game hitting streak.

Tampa Bay Rays first base coach Michael Johns, right, congratulates Jose Siri, who runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Washington Nationals starter Mitchell Parker during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

“That's pretty awesome, pretty special,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

With the win, Tampa Bay improved to 41-41. The Rays haven't been over .500 since May 21.

Washington slipped to 2-5 on a nine-game trip.

Eflin (4-5) scattered four hits, struck out six and snapped a five-start winless streak. Pete Fairbanks, the third Rays' reliever, worked the ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances, closing out the five-hitter.

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz watches a single to center field off Washington Nationals starter Mitchell Parker during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

“I had a pretty bad bullpen pregame, so that means I was going to be pretty accurate in the game,” Eflin said. “That's just how it works for me.”

Siri had a solo homer in the second inning before Isaac Paredes added an RBI single that put the Rays up 2-0 in the third inning. Mitchell Parker (5-4) kept the Nationals close he when struck out José Caballero with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Siri's second homer of the game and 11th of the season off Jacob Barnes in the sixth inning made it 3-0.

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez watches from the dugout during the third inning of the team's baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Washington's Jacob Young got his second double of the game in the seventh, stole third for his 19th stolen base and scored on catcher Alex Jackosn's throwing error.

“We just couldn't get anything going,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

Parker gave up two runs and six hits in five innings. The rookie left-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in 13 of 14 career starts.

Nationals left fielder Jesse Winker left the game with a bruised knee after he caught his cleats on the turf, stumbled and fell hard to the ground at the wall while catching Paredes’ fly to end the first.

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz claps as he reaches first base with a single to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, during the third inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

“He's going to be OK,” Martinez said. “It looked worse than it was. He made a nice play just to recover and catch the ball because when he started falling down I thought he’s going to get hit in the head with the ball.”

Washington shortstop CJ Abrams stayed in the game after getting hit in the hand by a pitch in the first.

Martinez said X-rays on Abrams were negative.

Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Rortvedt, left, and Josh Lowe, right, congratulate Jose Siri, center, in the dugout after his solo home run off Washington Nationals starter Mitchell Parker during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: INF Joey Gallo (strained left hamstring) hit off a tee and continued his running progression. … RHP Josiah Gray (right elbow-forearm strain) could go seven innings or 90 pitches an his next start Sunday with Triple-A Rochester.

Washington Nationals reliever Jacob Barnes watches a throw to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Rays: 2B Brandon Lowe (broken right pinky toe) pinch hit in the seventh after missing four games. … LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery) gave up three runs in three innings and threw 48 pitches in his fourth start for Triple-A Durham.

UP NEXT

Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (5-6, 3.13 ERA) will pitch against Rays RHP Aaron Civale (2-5, 5.20 ERA) on Saturday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB