Diamondbacks take rubber game from Nationals

Christian Walker hit his 17th home run of the year, Ryne Nelson pitched seven strong innings and the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Thursday.

Jake McCarthy had three hits, stole two bases and scored twice, and Randal Grichuk had a two-run double among his two hits as Arizona won the rubber game of the series.

Nelson (5-5) allowed two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out two. Paul Sewald pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker homered for the Nationals.

Washington starter MacKenzie Gore (6-6) left after five innings and 103 pitches. He allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks. He struck out seven.

Shortstop CJ Abrams was not in the Nationals' lineup after having an MRI on his left wrist.

The Diamondbacks twice had two runners on with two outs in the early going, but Gore pitched out of trouble both times.

Thomas went deep to left-center with two outs in the third to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was his eighth home run of the year.

McCarthy led off the Arizona third with a single and was sacrificed to second. Kevin Newman reached on an infield single with McCarthy holding at second and Barnhart followed with an RBI single to left. After Ketel Marte popped out, Grichuk doubled down the left field line, scoring both runners to give the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead.

Arizona added a run with a two-out rally in the fifth. McCarthy singled and stole second. Blaze Alexander walked and Newman followed with a single to center, scoring McCarthy to make it 4-1.

The Diamondbacks had a chance to add on in the sixth after Marte led off with a double and went to third when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled. However, Marte was caught trying to steal home and Walker struck out.

Winker hit a shot to center, his eighth of the season, with two outs in the sixth to pull the Nationals within 4-2.

Walker homered to left with two outs in the ninth for the 5-2 final.

--Field Level Media