Diamondbacks 2 - 3 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Rendon lifts Nats past D-backs in 9th

Aug 21, 2014 - 5:30 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Pinch-hitter Anthony Rendon's game- winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third test of a four-game set.

The Nationals, who have won nine in a row, have tallied four walk-off wins in their last five days.

"That's not the way you draw them up," Washington manager Matt Williams said.

Bryce Harper led off the ninth by lining a single to center off Evan Marshall (4-3). Wilson Ramos struck out, but Kevin Frandsen smoked a sharp one-hop grounder that darted just under the glove of a diving Aaron Hill at second to put runners at the corners with one out.

Rendon then sent his roller past the left side of the infield to plate Harper.

Rafael Soriano (3-1) notched the win after tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Harper posted three hits, while starter Tanner Roark allowed five hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings for Washington, which moved a season-high 19 games over .500.

Ender Inciarte smacked a game-tying, two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped five games in a row.

Arizona starter Trevor Cahill gave up two runs on six hits and four walks over 6 1/3 frames.

The Nationals opened the scoring with a run in the second and added another in the sixth.

"I know I had a couple of walks early on and then late, but that was probably the best I've felt, the best stretch I've had in a while, those middle innings," said Cahill.

Ian Desmond worked a one-out walk in the second, Harper hit an infield single and Desmond stole third before coming home on Ramos' RBI groundout. Consecutive doubles by Asdrubal Cabrera and Jayson Werth to begin the fifth gave Washington a 2-0 lead.

The Diamondbacks tied the game in the eighth against Tyler Clippard when Jordan Pacheco began the frame with a walk and Inciarte followed with his two- run blast to right.

Game Notes

Washington has won 13 of its 18 games against the D-backs over the last three seasons ... The Nationals were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while Arizona finished 0-for-5.






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