Kipnis drives in winner for Tribe in 9th

The Indians' Drew Stubbs, right, scores while the Nationals' Kurt Suzuki tries to make the play in the ninth inning.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Indians' Drew Stubbs, right, scores while the Nationals' Kurt Suzuki tries to make the play in the ninth inning.

CLEVELAND — Jason Kipnis’ run-scoring fielder’s choice in the ninth inning lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

The Indians’ Ryan Raburn, right, celebrates with Drew Stubbs after Stubbs scored against the Washington Nationals in the ninth inning on Friday. Stubbs scored on a fielder’s choice by Jason Kipnis. The Indians won 2-1.

With runners on second and third and one out, Kipnis hit a hard ground ball to the right side. First baseman Adam LaRoche made a diving backhanded stop and fired a throw to catcher Kurt Suzuki, but Drew Stubbs slid in with the winning run.

Stubbs’ one-out single off Fernando Abad (0-1) started the rally before the Indians executed a perfect hit-and-run play. As Stubbs broke off first, Michael Bourn punched a groundball through the hole that opened when Steve Lombardozzi went to cover second base. Stubbs advanced to third.

Joe Smith (3-0) retired the side in order in the ninth for the Indians, who have won three straight after losing eight in a row.

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson and Washington’s Gio Gonzalez both allowed one run in seven innings, but weren’t involved in the decision.

Masterson’s bases-loaded wild pitch in the third inning gave the Nationals their run. Gonzalez gave up a two-out homer to Ryan Raburn in the fourth.

The Indians loaded the bases in the sixth and eighth innings but failed to score. Masterson, who held Washington to two hits, struck out 10 and walked four. He was removed from the game after throwing 113 pitches.

The Indians managed only three hits off Gonzalez, who struck out eight and walked four. Three of the walks came with two outs in the sixth, but the left-hander retired Mark Reynolds on a popup to keep the game tied.

Gonzalez, who threw a season-high 127 pitches, is 5-0 with a 0.81 ERA in six career starts against the Indians.

He is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA in five career starts in Cleveland.

Masterson remained dominant at Progressive Field. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.23 ERA in eight home starts this season.

Walks to Suzuki and Roger Bernadina along with Lombardozzi’s single loaded the bases in the third. Masterson then bounced a 1-1 pitch in the dirt with Ryan Zimmerman batting to score Suzuki.

Masterson escaped further trouble, striking out Zimmerman and getting LaRoche on a groundout with runners on second and third to end the inning.

Raburn’s two-out homer to right tied it in the fourth. Raburn, moved to the cleanup spot by manager Terry Francona, is 7 for 13 with three home runs against Gonzalez.

Ian Desmond was 0 for 3 with a walk, ending his 15-game hitting streak.

The Indians were coming off a road trip in which they dropped the first seven games before winning the last two in Texas.

NOTES: Francona said RHP Chris Perez (shoulder tendinitis) will “more likely than not” begin a minor league rehab assignment Sunday. Perez, a two-time all-star, threw a bullpen session Friday. The Indians closer hasn’t pitched in a game since May 26. Perez and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday to misdemeanor possession charges after marijuana was mailed to their home in their dog’s name. ... RHP Stephen Strasburg (strained right lat) is scheduled to come off the disabled list on Sunday to start against the Indians. ... Nationals manager Davey Johnson said OF Bryce Harper (left knee) might resume baseball activities next week. Harper was given a cortisone injection Monday and was told to rest the knee for a week. ... Francona said RHP Zach McAllister (sprained middle finger) might start playing catch in a few days. ... RHP Jordan Zimmerman (9-3) will start for Washington against LHP Scott Kazmir (3-4) today.