CLEVELAND (Interstat) — Gavin Williams pitched seven strong innings and the Cleveland Guardians scored three times in the fifth inning to beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field, snapping a two-game losing streak and avoiding a sweep in front of 19,559.

Williams allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking two. He improved to 8-3 on the season. Cade Smith earned his 19th save with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two. Miles Mikolas took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, in 4 2/3 innings. He fell to 1-4.

The Guardians had lost the first two games of the series by a combined 16-5 margin, but rebounded behind a balanced attack. Cleveland outhit Washington 10-5.

Washington struck first in the top of the third inning. James Wood led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout by Luis García Jr., and scored on a double by CJ Abrams. The Nationals led 1-0.

Cleveland answered with a three-run fifth inning that proved decisive. Austin Hedges reached on a throwing error by third baseman Curtis Mead to start the inning. After Brayan Rocchio popped out, Travis Bazzana doubled down the line, putting runners at second and third. José Ramírez lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Hedges to tie the game at 1.

Chase DeLauter then lined a single to left field, driving in Bazzana to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead. Kyle Manzardo followed with a single, and Angel Martínez delivered a two-out, run-scoring single to center that scored DeLauter and made it 3-1. The Nationals escaped further damage when Daniel Schneemann walked to load the bases, but Steven Kwan lined out to shortstop.

Cleveland’s pitching held Washington scoreless until the ninth. In the ninth, Curtis Mead singled leading off and Abrams followed with a single to put runners at first and third. Daylen Lile then flied to left, scoring Mead to cut the deficit to 3-2. But Smith struck out José Tena and Jorbit Vivas to end the game.

Washington had other chances early. In the first inning, Wood walked and stole second, but García struck out and Curtis Mead struck out swinging. In the second, Drew Millas singled and advanced to third on a walk, but Jacob Young grounded into a double play.

Cleveland threatened in the third when Bazzana doubled with one out, but Ramírez and DeLauter lined out to end the inning.

Mikolas worked into the fifth, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out three.

The Nationals’ best opportunity to tie came in the ninth after they had managed only two hits since the third inning. Wood and García were retired in order in the fifth, and the Nationals went down in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth.

Wood finished with a double and a walk, scoring once. Abrams had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Mead had one hit. The Nationals left six runners on base.

For Cleveland, Bazzana doubled twice and scored a run. DeLauter had two hits and an RBI. Martínez had two hits and drove in the go-ahead run. Manzardo added a hit and a walk. Rocchio doubled in the sixth but was stranded at third.

The Guardians’ bullpen, which had struggled in the first two games of the series, was sharp. Smith’s save was his 19th of the season.

The victory improved Cleveland to 33-25, while Washington fell to 29-28. The Nationals had won 10 of their previous 12 games entering Wednesday, including three straight victories.

Washington will return home to host the San Diego Padres for a three-game series beginning Friday. Cleveland will open a three-game set at home against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a 7-6 victory for Cleveland, and its ELO system gave the Guardians a 62.00 percent probability of winning. Cleveland was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of five went over the over/under line of 8.5.