Washington @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2010 ) Washington 1, Arizona 6
The Arizona Diamondbacks put it all together Tuesday night for the first time in a while, getting timely hitting and strong pitching.
Now the Diamondbacks will aim to keep the momentum going as they look for consecutive wins for the first time in two weeks when they host the Washington Nationals in the third game of a four-game set on Wednesday.
Last-place Arizona had lost nine of 11 overall before earning a 6-1 victory over the Nationals on Tuesday thanks to Joe Saunders and Mark Reynolds.
Saunders won his first game in his second start since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels by tossing a complete game. The left-hander allowed a run and five hits and was backed by a pair of homers.
Reynolds hit his 25th blast of the season in the fourth inning but had to be helped off the field after being hit in the helmet with a pitch in the sixth. The extent of his injury and status moving forward was still unknown.
Taking the ball for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday will be Ian Kennedy (6-8, 4.26 ERA), who in his first season with the team has been serviceable.
But the right-hander has struggled over his last two starts in allowing a combined nine runs in 12 2/3 innings, surprisingly picking up the win against the New York Mets on Friday despite allowing five runs.
Kennedy, who is set to face Washington for the first time in his career, has been far better when pitching at home this year, where he owns a 3.98 ERA.
He’ll try to keep down a Nationals’ lineup that managed just five hits on Tuesday with Ryan Zimmerman’s homer accounting for the team’s lone run. Zimmerman finished with two hits, as did Josh Willingham.
Craig Stammen (3-4, 5.24 ERA) toes the rubber for Washington in an attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
In his last outing, the right-hander limited Philadelphia to a run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings to spoil Roy Oswalt’s debut with the Phillies.
Stammen hasn’t been nearly as good on the road, boasting a 6.07 ERA in nine starts. He will be opposing Arizona for the first time in his career.
Washington, which chose not to trade Adam Dunn at the deadline, placed the All-Star slugger on waivers Tuesday and the pending free-agent is expected to be heavily sought after.