*Photo from NBC Sports*
Matt Adams had 10 minutes to get ready. That was all he needed to help Joe Ross earn the win. Adams hit a key two run double in the 6th and Ross gave up only one hit for his first win in two years as the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0. Adams was sitting in the dugout just before game time when he was told that he would replace Howie Kendrick in the lineup, who was dealing with leg cramps.
It had been a pitchers duel between Ross and Arizona starter Alex Young, until the 6th inning. Adam Eaton led off the inning with a double, and Brian Dozier was intentionally walked two batters later to get to Adams. Adams stepped up to the plate and shot a line drive into the right field corner that easily scored Eaton and Dozier to break the tie and make it 2-0 Nats. In the 8th, with the lead still at two, Juan Soto continued his incredible season by ripping a home run to right field to add an insurance run and make it 3-0.
Ross gave up 5 walks and one hit in 5 1/3 innings of work. The only hit came when the other starter Young beat out a slow roller for an infield hit. Roenis Elias, Hunter Strickland, Fernando Rodney, and Sean Doolittle backed him up and didn't allow another hit. Ross also struck out 3. Elias left the game after finishing the 6th inning with a leg injury.
In their first game since trading ace Zack Greinke to Houston, Arizona fell 4 1/2 games behind the wild card. Manager Torey Lovullo said that "There are certain games at certain times that leave you scratching your head, this was definitely one of them. We get one hit — our pitcher scratches out a base hit for us." Washington now sits tied with the Chicago Cubs for the first wild card spot, with the Philadelphia Phillies one game behind them.
Since losing to the Diamondbacks on June 15, Stephen Strasburg has won 7 straight starts. He'll look to make it 8 against Arizona on Saturday. Robbie Ray is 0-5 in his career against Washington, and he'll look for his first career win against them.
Comments
Post a Comment