Nationals Get Win over Diamondbacks, Phillies Rebound and Defeat Padres
The Washington Nationals (38-38) took a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning on Tuesday and held on for a 7-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (41-35).
Nationals pitcher lefty Gio Gonzalez (4-3) showed up, taking the mound for 6 1/3 innings and giving up two runs on nine hits. He had four strikeouts and one walks. This led to his first win since May 5.
Gio Gonzalez
Gonzalez’s solid pitching wasn’t the only contributor to the win as an all-team effort got runs on the board. For the night, the Nationals tied a season-high in runs for an inning with their five in the third off Arizona’s pitcher, Trevor Cahill (3-9).
This included Adam LaRoche’s three-run homer.
Cahill, in his five innings of pitching, gave up six earned runs from eight hits. He had two walks and stuck out five. Cahill has now lost five in a row and his ERA has jumped to 8.80 during June.
Jayson Werth, who left Sunday’s game early from a groin strain, hit a double, RBI-single as well as two walks.
By the sixth inning, the Nationals had a 6-0 lead. Gonzalez said with the lead he built, he didn’t change anything. He said via The Associated Press, “No, you still have to go out there and attack. The team gives you a big lead like that you want to get them back in there, especially when they’re swinging it real hot.”
As for the Diamondbacks, it took their bats until the sixth inning to get going. This started with a single by Miguel Montero, followed by three hits by Paul Goldschmidt and a home run by Martin Prado in the eighth inning.
Arizona’s Aaron Hill returned after a stint on the disabled list (broken hand) since April 14 and didn’t miss a beat. He added a double, single and walk (2 for 4).
The series will continue on Wednesday with Nationals righty Jordan Zimmerman (10-3) going up against the Diamondback’s lefty Wade Miley (4-6).
Things happen in threes and Arizona will get their third straight loss thanks to a Nationals win (-135, 7 o/u).
Phillies Beat Padres, 6-2
After suffering a tough loss on Monday against the San Diego Padres (39-39), the Philadelphia Phillies (37-41) rallied on Tuesday for a 6-2 win.
The Padres had a 2-0 lead by the second inning but the Phillies Dominic Brown three-run homer overtook the lead in the third inning. This represented Brown’s 20th homer for this season as well as his four RBIs that tied a career high.
He now sits in the second spot behind the Colorado Rockies (39-39) Carlos Gonzalez with his leading 21 homers.
Domonic Brown
Brown said of the home run via MLB.com, “I was actually looking changeup. That was the only fastball I saw from him in three at-bats. I was looking middle, the other way and reacted to the ball in. That’s what I have to do, keep staying short and quick to the baseball. I told Charlie I made that adjustment. [My swing] had been long. He had a couple words with me [before batting practice]. Everything is fine.”
Phillies righty Kyle Kendrick (7-4) pitched for eight innings, giving up two runs, striking out six and walking zero. Fellow pitcher, Padres righty Jason Marquis (9-3), gave up six runs over his 4 1/3 innings on pitching. He struggles against the Phillies as he has a 5.71 ERA over his 28 career games.
The three-game series will end on Wednesday with the Phillies and San Diego native Cole Hamels (2-11) taking the mound while lefty Robbie Erlin (1-0) will pitch for the Padres.
Hamels likes to pitch in front of the home crowd as he’s 4-1 (1.27 ERA) over his six Petco starts. He’ll get a much-needed win on Wednesday (-117, 7.5 o/u).
