Washington Nationals outfielders Laynce Nix and Jonny Gomes jacked back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, but it wasn't enough as the Arizona Diamondbacks bit the Nats with a 4-2 loss at Nationals Park on Wednesday night. The D-Backs take a 2-to-1 game lead in a four game series between the two teams.
Starter Livan Hernandez went seven innings giving up four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out five. It was a relatively strong performance from Hernandez, but there is a feeling he was perhaps left in a little too long. Nats manager Davey Johnson took responsibility for the loss in his post-game and confessed he felt he "balked" on how Hernandez was left in the game.
Nix and Gomes, both former Cincinnati Reds reunited, hit back-to-back solo home runs in the eighth inning and doing the only damage the Nationals would do against the Arizona pitching corps.
It is the second loss in the row for the Nationals as they fall to 62-66 on the year.