CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals erupted for 10 runs and 15 hits Monday, cruising to a 10-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in a game that was effectively decided within the first two innings.

Washington scored three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, knocking out Guardians starter Tanner Bibee after three innings. The Nationals added a run in the third, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to build an insurmountable lead. Cleveland managed single runs in the second and fourth but never threatened.

The most pivotal sequence came in the top of the first when James Wood led off with a home run to right-center field, his 14th of the season. After Luis García Jr. doubled, Curtis Mead followed with a two-run homer to left-center, giving Washington a 3-0 lead before Cleveland even took a swing. The Nationals then loaded the bases in the second inning when Jacob Young homered to left-center, his seventh of the year, and later in the same frame García Jr. crushed a two-run homer to right, extending the lead to 6-0. The early barrage set the tone and forced the Guardians to play catch-up from a deep deficit.

Washington added a solo shot by CJ Abrams in the third, his 12th, and Mead hit his second home run of the game in the fifth, a solo blast to left field that made it 8-1. The Nationals tacked on two more in the sixth on a two-run single by García Jr. that plated Daylen Lile and Jacob Young.

Cleveland’s offense was limited to seven hits and could not string together sustained rallies. Rhys Hoskins provided the Guardians’ only power with a solo homer in the second inning, his fifth of the season. Angel Martínez doubled home Kyle Manzardo in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-2, but the Guardians never got another runner past second base. José Ramírez went 1-for-3, Patrick Bailey 1-for-3, Brayan Rocchio 1-for-3 and Petey Halpin 1-for-1 off the bench.

Washington starter Zack Littell earned the win, improving to 4-4. He allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking three. Littell worked efficiently, facing only four batters over the minimum through the first three innings after the early run support.

Bibee took the loss and fell to 0-7, surrendering seven earned runs on eight hits over three innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter but was battered by Washington’s lineup. Cleveland reliever Logan Allen pitched four scoreless innings in long relief, allowing five hits while striking out seven, and Matt Festa gave up one earned run in two innings of work.

Defensively, the Nationals turned two double plays, including a highlight-reel throw from left fielder Daylen Lile in the third inning that cut down Brayan Rocchio trying to stretch a single into a double. Washington’s bullpen closed the game with two scoreless innings, with Littell finishing the seventh and relievers handling the final two frames.

The Nationals improved to 28-27 on the season, winning for the fourth time in five games after taking two of three from Atlanta over the weekend. Cleveland dropped to 32-24, seeing its three-game winning streak snapped.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cleveland 7, Washington 5, and the Interstat ELO system gave the Guardians a 64.40 percent probability of winning. Cleveland was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The combined 12 runs went under the over-under line of 8.