Dbacks Keep Playoff Hopes Alive And Well With Series Victory Over Nationals

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been rolling well and been seated in playoff position for a good portion of the second half.  That doesn’t mean they have not been looking over their shoulder.  The Nationals, Padres and Giants have all been hovering around and in the mix.  The Dbacks already played the Padres and the Giants look like they will be on a collision course showdown to close the season.  The Nats are the defending champs and need a big night as they travel to the desert.  Last time around, these teams split a close series.  Would we see more of the same?  Let’s get to the action

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Game 1

Dbacks 4

Nationals 0

Zac Gallen takes the mound again in this one and has been one of the biggest surprises in the KPSL. He would continue to provide solid work and go long distance. In Game 1, he would go six plus of shutout ball. Dylan Lee and David Bednar would keep control of the situation and keep the shutout. Brendan Donovan, Alex Bohm, Ivan Herrera and Isiah Kiner-Falefa all drove in runs for the Dbacks.

WP – Gallen

LP – Roupp

SV – Bednar

Game 2

Nationals 6

Dbacks 4

Washington was not happy with being shutout. They would strike first to open game two like by a Michael Busch 1-run single. Dbacks would return the favor and tie the game on a Miguel Andujar 1-run single. Then in the fouth, Max Kepler would hit a 2-run home run to make it a 3-2 Nationals lead. Arizona would tie it again in the bottom half of the inning on an Alex Call 2-run home run. Geraldo Perdomo would hit a solo shot in the fifth to make it a 4-3 Nationals lead and they would score two more runs in the sixth inning on RBI’s from Busch and Matt Chapman. Dbacks would make it 6-4 in the eighth inning on a Jurickson Profar 1-run single. That would be all the Dbacks could do as the Nationals would take Game 2.

WP – Sanchez

LP – Holmes

SV – Santillian

HR – Kepler, Perdomo, Call

Game 3

Dbacks 5

Nationals 3

Arizona would jump out in the bottom of the first and score two runs on a 1-run single by Luis Arraez and a 1-run double by Brendan Donovan. Edmundo Sosa would hit a solo home run for Washington in the second to make it a 2-1 game. Donovan would add on to the Dbacks lead in the third inning with a 2-run home run, to make it 4-1 Arizona. Kyle Higashoka would add a solo home run in the sixth to make it 5-1 Dbacks. Nationals would make it a game in the seventh, as Pete Crow-Armstrong would hit a 1-run triple and Sal Frelick would have a 1-run single to make it 5-3 Arizona. David Bednar would come in and strike out two to record the save and victory for the Dbacks, who got a strong outing from Andrew Abbott.

WP – Abbott

LP – Mlodzinski

SV – Bednar

HR – Sosa, Donovan, Higashoka

Game 4

Dbacks 3

Nationals 2

The Nats and Dbacks get eight hits combined in this one.  Washinton would start game 4 scoring two, led by a 1-run double from Michael Busch and a sacrifice RBI from Seiya Suzuki. For the Dbacks, they made the most of their three total hits.  Two of those came in the first, Luis Arraez would hit a lead off single and Brendan Donovan would walk with one out. Two men on for Ivan Herrera, who would smash a 3-run home run to make it 3-2 Dbacks. Outside of that first inning for both teams, this was a pitching matchup. Nick Lodolo would go seven innings striking out five for Washington, while Ryan Pepiot would go six and strike out four.  Fernando Cruz would get the save for the win of the game and the series for Arizona.

WP – Pepiot

LP – Lodolo

SV – Cruz

Dbacks now climb to 40-36, while the Nationals are at 35-37.  Next week, both teams have important matchups to stay in the chase.  Arizona will take on the Reds, while Washington will take on the first-place Cardinals.