Strasburg, Nationals Go for Series Win in Arizona
By Pablo Roa
May 12, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher
Stephen Strasburgblows a bubble with his gum in the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Nationals defeated the Diamondbacks 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
After absorbing a painful sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, the Washington Nationals took game one of a three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, the team looks to ride the recently surging arm of Stephen Strasburg to a series victory over manager Matt Williams‘ former team.
Strasburg (3-2, 3.42 ERA) is coming off a great start against the Los Angeles Dodgers last week in which he allowed just two runs over seven and two-thirds innings, a season high, while striking out six batters en route to his third win of the season. The right-hander has been nothing short of dominant over his last four outings, posting a 2-0 record, 1.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31 strikeouts over 26 1/3 innings of work.
Arizona will counter with right-hander Bronson Arroyo (3-2, 4.89 ERA), who is coming off his best start of the season. Facing a struggling Atlanta Braves lineup last week, Arroyo pitched seven and one-third dominant innings in which he allowed just one earned run.
Arroyo will face a Nationals lineup that belted four home runs in the first game of the series after struggling mightily against Oakland over the weekend. Prior to tonight’s game, the Nationals are two games over .500 (20-18) and sit a game and a half behind the Atlanta Braves in the division.
Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:
Nationals:
Span CF
Rendon 3B
Werth RF
Ramos C
Desmond SS
Espinosa 2B
Moore 1B
Frandsen LF
Strasburg P
Diamondbacks:
Parra RF
Prado 3B
Goldschmidt 1B
Montero C
Hill 2B
Ross LF
Pollock CF
Owings SS
Arroyo P