Following a near sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Diamondbacks returned to Chase Field to face the Washington Nationals, aiming to solidify their position in both the NL Wild Card and the NL West divisional races.
Game 1 began disastrously for the Diamondbacks as the Nationals scored 5 runs off Jordan Montgomery, including a 3-run homer by Alex Call. Montgomery’s night ended early after 4 innings, giving up 9 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, and recording just 1 strikeout. This poor performance led to concerns among fans about his reliability as the team fights for a playoff spot.
The game seemed lost with Nationals’ All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan on the mound in the 9th inning to secure an 8-4 win. However, the Diamondbacks mounted an incredible comeback, sparked by an Alek Thomas triple, ultimately scoring 5 runs. Corbin Carroll capped off the rally with his first career walk-off home run. This late-inning surge prompted a look into the team’s offensive performance, revealing that while they struggle in the 7th and 8th innings, they lead the league in several key offensive stats in the 9th inning.
In Game 2, the Diamondbacks’ offense exploded against former teammate Patrick Corbin, scoring 10 runs, including 7 in the 2nd inning alone. Eugenio Suarez had a standout performance with a 4-for-6 night and 3 home runs. Ryne Nelson also shined, pitching 7 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts. Nelson’s turnaround since a rough start to the season has been impressive, significantly lowering his ERA.
The Diamondbacks aimed for a sweep in Game 3 with ace Zac Gallen on the mound. Gallen delivered, allowing only 1 run over 6 innings. However, the 9th inning brought tension as Paul Sewald, who struggled throughout July, nearly blew the lead. Postgame, manager Torey Lovullo mentioned Sewald’s delivery issues, leading to speculation about potential changes in the closer role.
Looking ahead, the Diamondbacks prepared for a crucial series against the Pirates, facing ace Mitch Keller and rookie phenom Paul Skenes. With other NL Wild Card contenders facing weaker opponents, this series was deemed essential for the Diamondbacks to maintain their playoff aspirations before tough matchups against the Guardians and Phillies.