D-backs drive in season-high 11 runs, Merrill Kelly deals in win over Nats
Apr 20, 2022, 7:22 PM | Updated: 8:04 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker scores on a sacrifice fly by Sergio Alcantara as Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz waits for the throw during the second inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Arizona Diamondbacks scored more runs through four innings on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals than they had in their last four games combined.
Center fielder Daulton Varsho smoked a line-drive home run to right field to give the D-backs a 6-0 advantage in the fourth — which set a 2022 season-high for runs — then designated hitter Seth Beer drove in two more with a double to take an 8-0 lead.
Arizona continued to pile on to win 11-2 and snap a three-game skid.
Beer finished with three hits and elevated his batting average to .438. He has hits in seven of eight starts this season.
“We’ve gotten guys on base when we needed to and sometimes someone couldn’t come through with that big hit. That happens. That’s just baseball — that’s why we love this game and that’s why we hate it,” Beer said before the game. “But the more we can continue to get opportunities to be a thereat is when things will start to go our way. We’ve got to keep that mentality and things will start happening.”
The offense had struggled prior to Wednesday’s victory, but not the starting pitching.
RELATED STORIES
That continued at Nationals Park as Merrill Kelly held Washington to one run through six frames.
Kelly had not allowed a run in 15 innings across three starts this season before giving up a two-out RBI single in the sixth on Wednesday.
He surrendered six hits but struck out five batters in the outing. Third baseman Yonny Hernandez helped the cause by throwing out Nationals first baseman Josh Bell at the plate on a fielder’s choice in the second inning.
The D-backs and Nationals face each other in the final of four games in the series on Thursday at 1:05 p.m.
Arizona will return home to face the New York Mets in a three-game set starting Friday.
Thursday’s action will air on ESPN 620 AM / 98.7 FM HD-2.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
