Diamondbacks 0 - 1 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Nats edge D-backs for 10th straight win

Aug 22, 2014 - 2:15 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Denard Span scored the game's only run on Jordan Pacheco's throwing error in the bottom of the ninth to give the Washington Nationals a 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a four-game series.

After pinch-hitter Scott Hairston flied out to start the frame, Span blooped a single into center off of Oliver Perez (2-3). Evan Marshall took over on the mound and Span swiped second to move into scoring position. Anthony Rendon hit a grounder to third that Pacheco fielded easily, but his throw came up short of first base and bounced past Mark Trumbo and out of play, allowing Span to score the winning run.

"I should've charged the ball," said Pacheco. "I found myself back too far and I had to rush the throw a little bit and obviously I made a bad throw."

The Nationals have won 10 straight games, with five of their last six coming in walk-off fashion. The streak ties a franchise record set in 2005.

"It's not a Nats win without a walk-off," said Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

Rafael Soriano (4-1) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the Nationals to get the win as Washington swept its opponent for the third series in a row.

"It's not surprising the way that they prepare and the way that they go about it every day," Nationals manager Matt Williams said of the winning streak.

Perez picked up the loss for allowing the single to Span in the ninth. He was charged with one run -- none earned -- on one hit over 1 1/3 innings.

The D-backs lost for the sixth game in a row and have dropped nine of their last 11.

Despite putting runners on base early in the game, neither team could crack the scoreboard. The D-backs and Nats both loaded the bases in the fifth, but couldn't take advantage of the chance.

Alfredo Marte singled in the away fifth and Arizona starter Wade Miley hit a two-out line drive into left. Bryce Harper over ran the ball, allowing Marte to move to third and Miley to move to second on the base knock. Gonzalez walked Ender Inciarte, loading the bases, but got Cliff Pennington to pop out to end the inning.

Danny Espinosa hit a single to lead off the home half. After Gonzalez moved Espinosa to second with a sac bunt and Span struck out, Miley intentionally walked Rendon. Jayson Werth also walked, but LaRoche ended the frame by striking out.

The Nationals put two or more men on base in all but one of the first five innings without scoring and the sixth was much of the same. After allowing the first two batters to reach, Miley struck out Asdrubal Cabrera and the D-backs defense backed him with its third inning-ending double play of the game.

Washington loaded the bases again in the seventh, but Matt Stites took over on the mound to get the third out for the D-backs. After Miley surrendered a pinch-hit single to Kevin Frandsen and walked Werth and LaRoche with two outs, Stites got Wilson Ramos to fly out to right.

Game Notes

The Nationals were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base ... The D-backs were 0-for-3 with RISP and left five men on base ... The Nationals outhit Arizona, 9-4 ... LaRoche grounded into two of Washington's double plays and left a total of seven men on base ... The Diamondbacks start an eight-game homestand with a three-game series against the Padres on Friday ... Washington hosts San Francisco in the first installment of a three-match set on Friday to close out its current 10-game homestand.






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