Nationals at Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks evened their three-game set against the visiting Washington Nationals with the help of a 15-hit attack after being limited to an infield single in a series-opening loss. Arizona attempts to win its second straight home series when it hosts Washington for Sunday's series finale.
Eduardo Escobar led the charge for the Diamondbacks in their 18-7 victory Saturday, belting two of the team's five homers and driving in seven runs during a 3-for-5 performance as the team pounded Stephen Strasburg to climb within 3 1/2 games of the second wild-card spot in the National League. The 30-year-old third baseman has recorded a career-high 88 RBIs this season, eclipsing the mark of 84 he set last year. Anthony Rendon homered and drove in four runs for the Nationals, who fell seven games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East but are tied for the second wild card spot with Philadelphia. Rendon has gone 9-for-23 with two blasts and 11 RBIs over his last six contests.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (9-5, 3.23 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Taylor Clarke (4-3, 5.53)
Corbin will be making the first appearance against the team with which he spent the first six seasons of his major-league career. The 30-year-old New Yorker reached double digits in victories three times with Arizona and can hit the mark again Sunday as he looks to win his fifth straight decision and extend his unbeaten streak to nine starts. Corbin has allowed fewer than three runs seven times during the run, including a victory over Atlanta on Monday in which he gave up two over six innings.
Clarke also is riding an unbeaten streak that reached five starts (3-0) on Tuesday, when he allowed an unearned run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings in a triumph over the Yankees in New York. The 26-year-old Virginian has lost once in his last eight turns but worked more than five frames only twice in that span. The rookie received a no-decision in his only appearance against Washington, permitting three runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 frames at Nationals Park on June 15.
WALK-OFFS
1. Strasburg was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for July after posting a 1.14 ERA while winning all five of his starts.
2. Washington sent RHPs Michael Blazek and Javy Guerra outright to Triple-A Fresno while the Diamondbacks made the same move with RHP Joey Krehbiel, shipping him to Triple-A Reno.
3. Arizona added Zac Gallen, who was acquired from Miami at the trade deadline, to the active roster and optioned fellow RHP Stefan Crichton to Reno.