Lineup Fails Stephen Strasburg in 3-1 Nationals Loss to Diamondbacks

May 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg in the dugout in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg allowed just three runs on eight hits in seven strong innings of work, but his teammates in the starting lineup simply could not solve Arizona Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo.

Arroyo—who has been hitting his stride of late—was masterful on Tuesday night. He went the full nine innings, allowing just one run on seven hits and a walk in the process. He needed 110 pitches (79 strikes, 31 balls).

The Nats scored their lone run in the top of the second inning. Ian Desmond smacked his first triple of the year to score Wilson Ramos. He effectively went with the pitch and took it to the opposite field, splitting the center and right fielders. Third base was in his sights from the second the ball left his bat.

Arroyo settled in after, however, as he would go on to strike out seven Nats in the game. He lowered his ERA to 4.15.

Strasburg didn’t run into trouble until the bottom of the fourth. With his team up a run, Strasburg knew he had to limit baserunners and minimize opportunities. He failed to do so in the aforementioned inning, as Miguel Montero ripped a single up the middle that scored Paul Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt would get in on the action again in the bottom of the fifth, as his 16th double of the year scored both Arroyo and Martin Prado.

That would be it for the scoring, however.

Reliever Drew Storen came in to pitch the eighth inning for the Nats, and he was effective in keeping the D’Backs off the board. He lowered his season ERA to 1.46 in the process.

The Nationals will run Doug Fister out there on Wednesday afternoon to attempt to secure a 2-1 series win. Arizona will counter with Brandon McCarthy, who is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA in his last three starts.