D-backs fall to Nationals to end 10-game road trip
WASHINGTON -- A promising road trip might've gone even better if not for Arizona right-hander Jeremy Hellickson's recent struggles.
Hellickson labored for a second consecutive start, allowing four runs on 104 pitches while failing to finish the fifth inning the Diamondbacks' 8-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Thursday afternoon.
"Just working way too hard out there right now," said Hellickson (7-8), who allowed five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. "I felt like the bases were loaded every inning."
Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered and Ender Inciarte had two hits, including a two-run double, as the Diamondbacks settled for a four-game split against Washington and a 6-4 finish to a 10-game, bi-coastal road swing.
Brad Ziegler gave up three eighth-inning runs outside of his typical closer, perhaps denying Paul Goldschmidt a chance to pinch hit in the ninth after manager Chip Hale gave the star slugger a rare off day. Outfielder A.J. Pollock was also out of the lineup before pinch hitting in the eighth.
"We knew coming in that two of our top guys we were going to give a rest to," said Hale, whose team could've pulled within a game of .500 with the win. "I thought the guys did a good job to stay in the game. But yeah, overall it was a good road trip."
For the Nationals, Ian Desmond homered, Bryce Harper reached base five times and Wilson Ramos hit a crucial two-run single that ended Hellickson's day. Rookie Joe Ross (3-3) allowed a run over six innings.
After yielding just five earned runs in all of July (24 IP), Hellickson has now allowed 11 runners across the plate in August in just eight innings over two starts.
Thursday, Hellickson could've escaped the fifth when his 0-2 curveball in the dirt fooled Nationals batter Jayson Werth. But the ball skipped away from catcher Oscar Hernandez, allowing Werth to reach first and Harper to move from second to third.
Asked if Hernandez should've blocked the pitch, Hale said: "It's not easy. Do I expect it? Probably, yeah."
Desmond walked to load the bases before Ramos then lifted a single into left field to score Harper and Werth.
Two innings later, Inciarte's bases-loaded double off Casey Janssen closed Arizona to within 4-3. Matt Thornton came on to get the final two outs of the seventh before Washington added to its lead late.
"Guys just kept fighting to the end offensively," said Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill. "It feels like this team just keeps getting a little bit better as we go on."
UNUSUAL OUTING
Ziegler's three runs allowed in a non-save situation were his most allowed in an outing this season and pushed his ERA up more than a half-run to 1.71. Ziegler has recorded 19 saves and is perfect in his 17 save opportunities.
GOLDSCHMIDT SITS
Diamondbacks All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt didn't start on Thursday for the first time since May 21. He broke a 0-for-15 slump with three hits on Wednesday. Saltalamacchia started at first for the first time since 2012.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Chase Anderson (triceps) will be activated from the DL in time to make tomorrow's start against visiting Cincinnati.
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (oblique) will likely be activated from the disabled list to make Saturday's start against visiting Colorado.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: Anderson (4-4, 4.37) makes his first start since going on the disabled list on July 19 with an inflamed right triceps. Anderson pitched four scoreless innings in his lone rehab start.
