Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score on Jul 23, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 23, 2017

PHOENIX -- Brian Goodwin homered to start a four-run first inning, and the Washington Nationals overcame the early departure of star right-hander Stephen Strasburg to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Sunday.

Wilmer Difo also homered for Washington, and the National League East-leading Nationals coaxed seven innings out of five relievers in their often unreliable bullpen to win for the second time in the three-game series and the eighth time in 10 games overall.

The anticipated pitching duel between All-Star pitchers Strasburg and Robbie Ray never developed. Washington roughed up Ray for five runs in the first three innings, and Strasburg was pulled after two innings for undisclosed reasons.

Washington may be cruising in its division with a 12-game lead, but losing Strasburg for any length of time would further stretch an already thin pitching staff that recently was forced to bring in the heavily traveled Edwin Jackson to be the No. 5 starter.

With Ray (9-5) making an uncharacteristically poor start -- he had been 7-1 in his previous 10 starts -- the Diamondbacks failed again to get any post-All-Star break traction as they dropped their 10th in 14 games.

The Nationals grabbed a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning, which seemed to be enough support for him to get Strasburg 11th win. However, he didn't pitch the mandatory five innings for the decision.

Washington batted around in the first while jumping on Ray for four runs. The rally started with Goodwin's long leadoff homer to center field -- an indication Ray would have another rough start against a team he has never beaten.

The left-hander is 0-4 in four career starts against the Nationals.

After Goodwin hit his ninth homer of the season, off the center field batters' backdrop, Difo and Bryce Harper followed with sharply hit singles and Ryan Zimmerman hit a long sacrifice fly to center.

Ray got into further trouble by walking Daniel Murphy, leading to run-scoring singles by Anthony Rendon and Jose Lobaton.

Arizona shortstop Chris Owings' throwing error led to another run in the third. Washington rookie Adrian Sanchez grounded into a force play with the bases loaded for his first career RBI.

Ray lasted five innings, giving up five runs -- four earned -- and six hits while striking out four and walking two.

Arizona cut the deficit to 5-2 in the fifth as Ketel Marte and David Peralta each singled in runs against reliever Matt Grace, who threw 42 pitches in 2 1/3 innings after making 31 pitches in relief on Friday. Joe Blanton (1-2) prevented a bigger inning by coming on to strike out Paul Goldschmidt and get Owings to ground into a force out with runners on third and first.

The Nationals did not offer an explanation for Strasburg's early departure or indicate if it was injury-related. The team does not make injury updates during games.

The hard-throwing Strasburg has been injury-free this season, but he has a lengthy list of injuries dating to his rookie season in 2010, when he tore an elbow ligament two months after debuting. He subsequently needed Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all but five games in 2011.

Strasburg was on the disabled list four times during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and he was limited to 19 starts last season by a sore right elbow and an upper back strain.

Strasburg is 10-3 with a 3.25 ERA this season in 20 starts, striking out 141 in 121 2/3 innings.

NOTES: Nationals RF Bryce Harper ran his hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the first inning. ... The Diamondbacks returned LHP Anthony Banda to Triple-A Reno after he pitched effectively at times (5 2/3 innings, four runs) during a 4-3 loss to Washington on Saturday night. RHP Taijuan Walker was reinstated from the paternity list and will start Tuesday vs. Atlanta. ... Diamondbacks OF J.D. Martinez (bruised left hand) hasn't started since being hit on the hand with a pitch during his Arizona debut on Wednesday, but could be ready by Monday. He walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning Sunday. ... The Nationals are 14-5 vs. the NL West.