ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Madison Bumgarner strikes out season-high 9 in D-backs win over Nats

Jul 23, 2022, 9:24 PM | Updated: 9:37 pm

Pitcher Madison Bumgarner #40 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the MLB game between the W...

Pitcher Madison Bumgarner #40 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 23, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

(Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner had his best outing of the season on Saturday night.

With a season-high 37,802 fans in attendance at Chase Field, the D-backs (42-52) lefty struck out over twice as many batters as he allowed hits in a 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals (31-65).

Bumgarner punched out a season-high nine batters over eight innings while only allowing two runs on four hits (one home run) and no walks (two hit-by-pitches) over 98 pitches (68 strikes).

“Bum went out there and set a really good tone,” manager Torey Lovullo said postgame. “We got an early lead and he just kept making pitches and getting some outs.

“You look up there fourth or fifth inning, the pitch count is super low and you feel like he’s going to pitch deep into this game and he did everything he could to do that. … There was zero chance I was going to send him back out there for the ninth inning.”

Bumgarner’s only real mistake on the night came in his eighth and final frame.

Nationals No. 9 hitter Victor Robles hit a solo home run to left field and the left-handed starter didn’t appreciate Robles’ celebration.

“He’s a clown. Golly. No shame. No shame,” Bumgarner said. “It’s 7-1, you hit your third home run of the year, you act like Barry Bonds breaking the record. Clean it up. I don’t care about giving up the run. Hell, we won 7-2. That’s frustrating. I’m the old grumpy guy, I know, but that type of stuff didn’t used to happen. Now, that’s ridiculous.”

Right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver came on to close things out with a 1-2-3 ninth inning that featured two strikeouts, one of which was Nationals All-Star Juan Soto’s third of the ballgame. In two games this series, Soto is 1-for-8 (.125) and had his career-high 27-game on-base streak snapped on Saturday after going 0-for-4.

The force was with the Diamondbacks offense on Star Wars night, as Arizona totaled its seven runs on 10 hits and three walks while going 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The D-backs garnered over half of their runs in the ballgame with a four-run sixth inning that featured three two-out runs.

After Daulton Varsho scored the first run of the inning, two straight singles by Jake McCarthy and Geraldo Perdomo were followed by a Josh Rojas walk and a two-RBI double by Alek Thomas to give Arizona a 7-1 lead.

The Diamondbacks jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first after loading the bases thanks to a Thomas infield single, a Ketel Marte walk and a Christian Walker broken-bat bloop over the outstretched glove of Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez.

Arizona left fielder David Peralta then hit a sac-fly to left that would bring Thomas home.

The D-backs doubled their advantage the next inning thanks to a solo home run from catcher Carson Kelly, his fifth of the season.

Kelly is 4-for-7 (.571) in two games this series with a home run, double, two singles, two RBI and two walks in nine plate appearances.

“It’s a long year and obviously the results weren’t there early off in the season,” he said. “I made some adjustments when I was hurt and coming back — basically simplify things, move on to the next one.

“For me, a lot of it is mental. I beat myself up on a lot of things. Moving on to the next one is something that has really helped me regardless if it’s good, bad, ugly — whatever it is, move on to the next one.”

UP NEXT

The D-backs go for the three-game series sweep over the Nationals on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Arizona RHP Corbin Martin (0-0 4.40 ERA) is scheduled to start against Washington RHP Erick Fedde (5-7, 4.91).

Umpires Andy Fletcher, left, and Junior Valentine are flanked by "Star Wars" stormtroopers as they walk on the field during Star Wars night, prior to a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Washington Nationals on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' first-round draft pick Druw Jones throws out the first pitch prior to the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas, right, slides into second base as he was running on the pitch, but advances to second base when Ketel Marte walked, as Washington Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez, left, waits for the throw during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas (5) celebrates his run scored against the Washington Nationals with David Peralta, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals shortstop Ehire Adrianza (5) flips the ball back to starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (27) after an infield hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals' Victor Robles (16) is congratulated by Juan Soto after Robles scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly, left, scores next to Washington Nationals catcher Tres Barrera during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals' Juan Soto throws his bat down after striking out as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly, right, walks back to the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles, right, is unable to make a play on a double hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy as left fielder Lane Thomas, left, watches during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals' Juan Soto frowns after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks as umpire Andy Fletcher stands behind the plate during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez, right, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta trying to advance to second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals relief pitcher Andres Machado (57) reaches down to pick up a slow grounder hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly, left, before throwing to first base for the out during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Nationals catcher Tres Barrera is unable to handle a wild pitch thrown by Andres Machado against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas celebrates his two-run double against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy (30) steals second base as Washington Nationals shortstop Ehire Adrianza, left, is unable to control the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly, left, congratulates relief pitcher Luke Weaver after the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 7-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) and center fielder Alek Thomas celebrate after the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 7-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Madison Bumgarner strikes out season-high 9 in D-backs win over Nats