AZ Snake Pit - Game #40, May 13: Diamondbacks 4, Nationals 6An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2018-05-13T23:16:56-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/171139612018-05-13T23:16:56-04:002018-05-13T23:16:56-04:00Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Washington Nationals 6
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<img alt="Washington Nationals v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/e9Fudi8mXb1TOnefHJHnGKQM2Q4=/0x0:4231x2821/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59723095/958215138.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The clutch offense showed up tonight. Unfortunately, so did Mark Reynolds.</p> <p id="nxzlXc">It only took three batters for <span>Zack Godley</span> to give the lead to the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>, and for a good part of the game, this looked likely to follow the previous three contests. A bomb from <span>Bryce Harper</span> added to their lead, although a triple from <span>David Peralta</span> (above) brought Arizona back within one. But two more solo homers, the second from former Diamondback Mark Renolds, gave the Nationals a 4-1 lead at the stretch. Godley was charged with all four runs over 6.1 inning, on seven hits and a walk, with six strikeouts.</p>
<p id="QXocCF">Just when it looked over, Arizona got their clutch back. <span>Jarrod Dyson</span> delivered a two-run single off the bench. Then Daniel Descalsi - who else? - tied the game up with a double. Unfortunately, it didn't last. Reynolds rapped his second HR, a two-run shot off <span>Archie Bradley</span> in the eighth, proved the final margin as the Nationals completed the four-game sweep. <span>Jimmie Sherfy</span> made his debut, pitching a scoreless ninth.</p>
<p id="bZjOrS">@miketvee13 will be along with the full recap shortly.</p>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/5/13/17350920/arizona-diamondbacks-washington-nationals-scoreJim McLennan2018-05-13T19:00:02-04:002018-05-13T19:00:02-04:00Preview, #40: 5/13 vs. Nationals
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<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZAnINeAByKGygrhzLaEtg3w24Qc=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59720037/956294428.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Can Zack Godley and co avoid a sweep?</p> <div id="rQMxr0">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
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<th align="left">WASHINGTON NATIONALS</th>
<th align="left">ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Trea Turner - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Bryce Harper - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Daniel Descalso - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Howie Kendrick - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Paul Goldschmidt - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Matt Adams - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">A.J. Pollock - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Mark Reynolds - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Steven Souza - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Michael Taylor - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Chris Owings - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Pedro Severino - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Alex Avila - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Jeremy Hellickson - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ketel Marte - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Wilmer Difo - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Zack Godley - RHP</td>
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<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Q82cUI">
<p id="xP0Vp8">It never ceases to amaze me how fickle some fans are. We lose our first series of the year, and the recap comments show rats fleeing off the ship they perceive to be sinking. But look at the three losses this series. We drop game one on a balk, then face two of the top eight <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/vIavN">starting pitchers in the majors</a> this decade, while sending out replacement starters AND going hitless with runners in scoring position. These contests should not even have been close: they should have been blowouts of a <span>Gerrit Cole</span> vs. <span>Kris Medlen</span> proportion. Yet we lose them by a combined margin of three runs. It’s very easy to see a scenario where we come into this finale having secured a split, rather than trying to avoid a sweep.</p>
<p id="NiOkYt">That said, man: our clutch hitting. Woo-hee. Last time we had a hit with runners in scoring position? <span>Zack Greinke</span>’s RBI single on Thursday, since when we are 0-for-16. It has been more than a week and six games since the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> have managed more than a single RISP hit in the same contest, and their May average is now down to .143 (11-for-77). I know the team’s average generally has been low of late, but it’s not below a buck fifty. This will turn around. It’d be nice if it started to do so today, and <span>Jeremy Hellickson</span> seems like exactly the sort of pitcher who we should do well against. Although he was decent when we faced him in Washington, getting a no-decision and allowing two runs in 5.1 innings.</p>
<p id="PUDvyC">Godley got the win when he saw the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> in that seriees, but it was a really ugly one, allowing ten hits in five innings. He faced the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> his last two outings, and the problem has continued to be his lack of control. Over his last three outings, Godley has a K:BB ratio of 13:10 in 16.2 innings, which is terrible, especially consider it was better than 3:1 last year. He’ll need to do better to be successful against the Nationals, especially the top of their order, which has the capacity to do a lot of damage. I’m going to predict that the offense comes alive this evening, in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPN, and tacos are delivered for only the second time in May. </p>
<p id="iiskqC">In case you missed it, there was a roster move this afternoon. Troy Scribner has been sent down to Reno, with Jimmy Sherfy coming up to take his spot. This will give the team an 8-man bullpen until we need a fifth starter again, at the end of next week. Right now, it looks likely that this will be Clay Buchholz, who starts for the Aces this afternoon, since Scribner can’t be recalled for 10 days (except in the case of a DL stint). </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/5/13/17349934/preview-40-5-13-vs-nationalsJim McLennan