Homers power Diamondbacks past Nationals
WASHINGTON -- Chris Herrmann went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, and the Arizona Diamondbacks hit three long balls to defeat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Tuesday to begin a three-game series.
Herrmann entered the game batting .167 after going 3-for-16 on a recent homestand. He hit his second homer of the season in a three-run fourth inning that included a solo shot from Jake Lamb.
Chris Owings added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single to make it 5-3. Diamondbacks reserve Jeremy Hazelbaker hit his first homer in the ninth for a 6-3 cushion.
The winning pitcher was Arizona reliever T.J. McFarland (1-0), who allowed no runs or hits in 1 1/3 innings.
J.J. Hoover fanned Daniel Murphy of the Nationals for the final out in the seventh with two runners on, and Jorge De La Rosa retired Trea Turner on a fly ball for the last out in the eighth, also with two on. Fernando Rodney, who entered the game with a 12.60 ERA, pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
Washington starter Tanner Roark (3-1) struggled with his command but got through six innings while throwing 125 pitches. He allowed six hits, two walks and four runs.
Ryan Zimmerman was 2-for-5 for the Nationals, while Brandon Drury was 2-for-4 for Arizona. The Nationals were held at bay after scoring 23 runs on 23 hits in their last game, on Sunday against the New York Mets. Washington had scored 73 runs in its previous six games.
Roark struggled through a 19-minute top of the first in which he threw 33 pitches as the Diamondbacks jumped in front 1-0. Paul Goldschmidt's RBI single scored A.J. Pollock, who had led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on an error by Roark.
Bryce Harper answered for the Nationals in the bottom of the first with an RBI single.
Murphy gave Washington a 3-1 lead with a two-run single in the third.
Arizona, though, responded with three in the top of the fourth, as Lamb hit a solo homer and Herrmann hit a two-run shot to make it 4-3.
McFarland came on with two outs in the fifth for Arizona starter Taijuan Walker, who gave up three runs and walked five while throwing 117 pitches.
NOTES: Washington RHP Joe Ross was sent to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and RHP A.J. Cole was called up from Syracuse. Ross is 1-0 with a 7.47 ERA this season. ... Washington manager Dusty Baker, one of two African-American skippers in the majors, was asked about the racial slurs Baltimore CF Adam Jones was called Monday in Boston. "It doesn't really surprise me too much because I've been called that word in almost every city that I've played in. So, it don't really shock me too much," Baker said. Added Arizona manager Torey Lovullo: "There is no place or time (for such behavior)." ... Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-0, 1.62) will face Arizona LHP Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.56) on Wednesday.