Bryce Harper made quite the statement as the host Washington Nationals snapped a five-game skid by rallying past the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. The 19-year-old stud, who had three hits and an improbable barehanded catch, will look for an encore as the teams vie for the series win on Thursday.
The Nationals' anemic offense mustered just seven runs during their skid, but Ian Desmond provided a jolt with a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth to give Washington a 5-4 triumph. The blast brought Arizona's three-game winning streak to an end.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Arizona), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (3-0, 3.37 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (2-1, 1.64 ERA)
Kennedy continued his solid season by yielding just one run in his last trip to the mound. The 27-year-old scattered seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, but settled for a no-decision against Miami on Saturday. Kennedy has won two of his three career decisions versus Washington, striking out 20 in 25 innings.
Detwiler suffered his lone setback of the season in his last outing. The 26-year-old southpaw allowed three runs on five hits in six innings during the 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Detwiler has split a pair of career decisions versus the Diamondbacks despite registering a 1.69 WHIP and 4.22 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton, who has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, is 2-for-6 with a pair of singles in his career versus Detwiler.
2. Desmond, who belted his first career walkoff homer on Wednesday, has four singles in 10 career at-bats against Kennedy.
3. Arizona's Stephen Drew (ankle) will play three innings during a rehab assignment on Thursday, according to manager Kirk Gibson.