The Washington Nationals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Thursday night, winning their second straight game by one run and clinching the series after a five-game losing streak. While they did it in walk-off fashion on Wednesday, it was the pitching staff that shut down Arizona and held the one-run lead in the finale. The Nationals have now won seven of their first eight series of the season.
Starter Ross Detwiler was fantastic yet again, carrying a no-hitter into the 5th inning and allowing just one run in six and one-third innings pitched. He gave up just three hits and handed it off to the bullpen, which kept the Diamondbacks at bay and slammed the door for the win. Henry Rodriguez cleaned it up with a quick 1-2-3 9th inning to convert his sixth save of the year.
On offense, it was rookie phenom Bryce Harper who drove home the winning run. In the same inning the Dbacks tied it up 1-1, Harper came to the plate and went the other way on a line-drive double that brought home Ian Desmond. Harper said he was just looking for a high pitch to drive, and he took full advantage of the offering from Ian Kennedy.
The Nationals improved to 10-3 at home and 16-9 on the season, good enough for first in the NL East with the Phillies coming to town on Friday for a weekend series. Ace Stephen Strasburg will start things off for Washington while Charlie Manuel will put Kyle Kendrick on the mound.
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