The Washington Nationals will go for their fifth straight win when they play the finale of their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix.
The Nationals scored nine runs before making an out in a 10-run first inning and held on for an 11-7 win on Saturday night. They have won 10 of their last 13 games.
Washington has scored nine or more runs in four straight games for the first time since the club moved from Montreal before the 2005 season.
Arizona has lost four straight games — while allowing at least nine runs in each game — and nine of its last 10 overall. The Diamondbacks will look to salvage the finale behind right-hander Corbin Burnes (3-2, 2.72 ERA).
Burnes fashioned a 1.67 ERA over four May starts with 29 strikeouts and eight walks. Most recently, he gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings of a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. Arizona lost 9-6.
“(Burnes) gives you seven unbelievable innings with two runs and you feel like you’re just totally controlling the climate of the game,” Diamondbacks manager Tory Lovullo said. “He was effective with his cutter. We pressed him a little bit to finish that seventh inning. I thought he did a fantastic job.”
Burnes is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven games (four starts) versus the Nationals.
Washington will go for the sweep behind left-hander Mitchell Parker (4-4, 4.65 ERA), who will be glad to see the calendar turn to June. He ended April with a clunker and struggled throughout May. Over his past six starts, Parker is 1-3 with an 8.46 ERA. In 27 2/3 innings, he has 20 strikeouts and 15 walks.
Last time out he gave up four runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings of a 9-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Three of those runs came in the first inning.
“Today was a product, I think, of him coming out and throwing 91-92,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said after the game. “All of a sudden, he gives up the three runs and it’s 94-95. He’s got to come out from the chute and get after it. That first inning is important. If he can throw up a zero that first inning, it loosens everybody up.”
Parker is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against Arizona.
The Nationals scored their 10 first-inning runs on nine hits — five doubles — on Saturday night. James Wood and Robert Hassell III each had two hits in the first, Luis Garcia, Jr. and Keibert Ruiz hit two-run doubles, and CJ Abrams twice was hit by a pitch.
Every National reached base at least once in the inning, and 11 batters reached safely before the Diamondbacks recorded an out.
“A lot of smiles,” said rookie Daylen Lile, who doubled in the first and later added a triple. “It was electric. Pass it down the line. And for us to do our job with runners in scoring position, it was awesome.”
Washington finished the game 9-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Randal Grichuk had three hits, including a home run, and Josh Naylor had a homer and a double for the Diamondbacks.
–Field Level Media
