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Washington Nationals Use Long Ball to Defeat Diamondbacks

By Matt Holleran

Aug 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) hits a three run home run i the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) hits a three run home run i the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals continued their hot offense, beating the Diamondbacks 10-4 in Arizona. 

The Nationals opened up the scoring in the top of the firs inning. Trea Turner and Jayson Werth singled to start the game, and Daniel Murphy drove in Turner with an RBI groundout, giving the Nationals an early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Diamondbacks got the run right back. Jake Lamb hit a ground ball that was originally ruled a double play, but after a D-backs challenge, it was ruled he was safe at first and the run scored to tie the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the second, Yasmany Tomas launched a solo shot to left field, his 18th of the season, giving the D-backs a 2-1 lead.

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The Nationals were able to answer in the top of the fourth inning. Anthony Rendon continued his hot hitting with a leadoff double, and with two down Wilmer Difo drove him in on an RBI single, tying the game at 2-2.

In the top of the fifth, as they have all season long, the Nationals used the long ball to ignite their offense. With two men on, Wilson Ramos launched a three-run homer to left field, giving the Nats a 5-2 lead. The next batter, Chris Heisey, followed by hitting the very next pitch out of the ballpark, his fifth home run of the year, and increasing the lead to 6-2.

The Diamondbacks continued the long ball theme in the bottom of the sixth. Jake Lamb, who has had an outstanding under the radar season, hit his 22 home run of the season to right, cutting the Nats’ lead to 6-3.

Jayson Werth continued the power surge in the top of the seventh, launching his 13th homer of the year, giving the Nats a four-run lead again at 7-3. In the bottom half of the inning, Tanner Roark left the game, after 6 1/3 innings. Roark was not perfect, but he battled and put the Nats in position to get the win.

In the bottom of the eighth inning the Nats continued to pour it on. Turner, Daniel Murphy, and Anthony Rendon all had RBI singles, extending the Nats’ lead to 10-3.

The Diamondbacks added a run in the bottom of the ninth off Matt Belisle on a Jake Lamb RBI single, but Belisle was able to get the final out and secure the 10-4 win for the Nats.

Next Game: Tomorrow afternoon the Nationals wrap up their three-game series with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Max Scherzer (11-6 2.85) will get the ball for the Nats and will be opposed by Zach Godley (3-1 5.63) for the D-backs. First pitch is set for 3:40 p.m. ET, you can watch the game on MASN.

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