Game-ender Lindor sinks Nats’ ‘pen

CLEVELAND — Indians manager Terry Francona paid the Nationals the ultimate compliment before Tuesday’s game, saying Washington is “built for October baseball.” In the opener of this series between potential postseason teams, the Indians looked like they fit that description as well, pulling off a 7-6 walk-off win at Progressive Field.

Francisco Lindor finished off Washington in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out single through the right side of the infield, scoring Chris Gimenez from third base to set off an on-field celebration. Lindor pumped his arms as he skipped up the first-base line, as fireworks popped overhead. Cleveland now has five walk-off wins this year, and has won 15 of its last 19 home games.

Lindor’s game-winner completed a three-run rally in the ninth, which began with a leadoff walk by Jose Ramirez against Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon. Rookie Tyler Naquin then cut Washington’s lead to one run with a pinch-hit RBI double that split the left-center-field gap. The Indians tied things up when Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman made a throwing error on a bunt from Gimenez, allowing Naquin to score from second.

The loss was the sixth in the past eight games for the Nationals. For the Indians, the comeback snapped a three-game losing streak, which equaled the longest drought of the year for the American League Central leaders.

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez worked into the seventh inning, and Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos each launched a home run, but Washington watched Cleveland slowly chip away. Indians starter Danny Salazar was on the hook for four runs (three earned) in four-plus innings, marking his shortest outing of the season.

In the first, the Nationals struck for two runs — one on an RBI …

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