The Sports Xchange
Jul 22, 2017
PHOENIX -- David Peralta, A.J. Pollock and Jake Lamb homered off Max Scherzer to lead off the first inning, but the Arizona Diamondbacks needed a walk-off single by Brandon Drury with one out in the ninth for a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Chase Field.
Pollock tripled to open the ninth inning against Enny Romero (2-4) before Nationals manager Dusty Baker intentionally walked Lamb and Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases.
Adfter Gregor Blanco hit a short fly to left field, Drury grounded a single into right as the Diamondbacks recovered after blowing a 5-0 lead.
Pollock and Peralta had three hits and an RBI and Lamb had two hits and two RBIs for the Diamondbacks (56-40), who have won three of four. It was their seventh walk-off victory of the season.
Daniel Murphy had three hits and an RBI, Wilmer Difo had two RBIs and Bryce Harper extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games for the Nationals (53-38), who had won six of seven.
Fernando Rodney (4-3) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the victory.
Washington tied the score when Difo drove in Anthony Rendon from third base with one out in the eighth inning off Archie Bradley.
Scherzer gave up eight hits and five runs, tying a season high, in five innings. He struck out nine and walked two.
Arizona starter Zack Godley struck out career-high 10 while giving up four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He gave up five hits and walked three.
Peralta, Pollock and Lamb homered in the first 10 pitches of the game off Scherzer, who had given up only 13 homers in 134 2/3 innings entering the game and had not allowed more than two in a game this season.
Jeff Mathis singled in Goldschmidt, who had singled, for a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Pollock and Lamb doubled with one out in the second inning to make it 5-0.
Harper broke up Godley's no-hitter on a double to center field with one out in the fourth inning and he scored on Murphy's two-out double to make it 5-1.
Matt Wieters singled and Difo walked before Scherzer sacrificed the runners up a base in the Nationals' two-run fifth inning. Wieters scored on a groundout and Difo scored on Ryan Raburn's single to make it 5-3.
Murphy singled and scored on Difo's two-out single off reliever Andrew Chafin to make it 5-4 in the sixth inning.
NOTES: Arizona OF J.D. Martinez (left hand) had an MRI on Friday, two days after he was hit by a pitch in his Diamondbacks' debut Wednesday. The MRI was negative, and Martinez is expected to return to action shortly. "You hold your breath there for a little while," manager Torey Lovullo said. ... The Diamondbacks were the first team to start the game with three straight homers since Baltimore against Texas on May 10, 2012. ... Arizona LHP Anthony Banda is expected to make his major league debut with a start against Washington on Saturday, manager Torey Lovullo indicated before Friday's game. Banda, 7-5 with a 5.08 ERA at Triple-A Reno, is considered the team's best prospect. ... Arizona RHP Taijuan Walker is expected to start Tuesday, manager Torey Lovullo said. He began paternity leave Wednesday to be with his for the birth of his first child.