Diamondbacks at Nationals
The Arizona Diamondbacks are tied for the best record in baseball for a reason, becoming the first team in 17 years to win their first nine series of a season. The Diamondbacks made it two straight one-run decisions over Washington on Saturday to clinch their latest series win and go for a three-game sweep of the Nationals in Sunday afternoon's finale of the three-game set.
David Peralta clubbed a pair of solo homers as part of a 3-for-4 day to help Arizona erase an early two-run deficit en route to improving to 19-7, tied with the Boston Red Sox for the best mark in the majors. A.J. Pollock drove in the tying and go-ahead run in Saturday's 4-3 victory and is 4-for-8 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored in the series. The Nationals fell to 3-9 at home despite the second homer in as many days from Howie Kendrick, who is riding a six-game hitting streak. Washington will try to avert the sweep when it sends Gio Gonzalez to the mound to face fellow left-hander Robbie Ray, who has lost all four career starts against the Nationals.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Arizona, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (2-0, 5.13 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 3.04)
Ray is still piling up some impressive strikeout numbers but he failed to go past five innings for the third time in five starts last time out, taking his third straight no-decision after fanning 11 in 4 2/3 frames at Philadelphia. He struck out nine in his previous start, permitting two runs on six hits while matching his season high with six innings. Ray did pitch well at Washington last May, striking out 10 in a 2-1 defeat.
Gonzalez yielded more than two earned runs for the first time in five starts this season and took the loss last time out at San Francisco, giving up three runs on four hits over five innings. It marked the fourth straight time he has failed to pitch beyond 5 1/3 innings since working six frames in his season debut at Cincinnati. Paul Goldschmidt is 9-for-14 versus Gonzalez, who is 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA against the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals RF Bryce Harper drew another walk on the sixth anniversary of his major league debut and is four shy of tying Barry Bonds' record (39) for the most in April.
2. Arizona's bullpen has tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the first two games of the series.
3. Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman homered among two hits Saturday to lift his batting average to .200 for the first time this season.