PHOENIX, May 5 \u2014 The Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> took care of business in the first matchup of their ten-game homestand behind Merrill Kelly<\/a><\/strong> and his masterful pitching. They beat the Washington Nationals<\/a>, 3\u20131, on Cinco De Mayo Friday and a full moon in front of 16,384 loud and boisterous fans. It was a beautiful 79-degree first pitch temperature at Chase Field with the roof open in downtown Phoenix.<\/p>\n To begin the game, Alex Call<\/a><\/strong> struck out for the Nationals. Next up, Luis Garcia<\/a><\/strong> hit a home run to left off Merrill Kelly to give the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead. Keibert Ruiz<\/a><\/strong> was called out on strikes before Joey Meneses<\/a><\/strong> struck out.<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte<\/a><\/strong> walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Josiah Gray<\/a><\/strong>. However, he was stranded after Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong> lined out and Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong> grounded to third. Nationals 1, Diamondbacks 0.<\/em><\/p>\n In the bottom of the second, Pavin Smith<\/a><\/strong> singled. Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong> also singled, doing so on a line drive to center field. With runners on first and second, Alek Thomas<\/a><\/strong> struck out, and Geraldo Perdomo<\/a><\/strong> ended the inning on a fly to right.<\/p>\n In the bottom of the third, the Diamondbacks finally got to Gray. After a swinging Josh Rojas<\/a><\/strong> strike out and a Marte fly out, Corbin Carroll hit his fifth home run of the season on a deep ball to left field. Christian Walker followed up a first-pitch brushback with a single, but Smith grounded out to end the inning. Diamondbacks 1, Nationals 1.<\/em><\/p>\n In the top of the fourth, Meneses popped out to Walker in foul territory. Jeimer Candelario<\/a><\/strong> singled, but Dominic Smith<\/a><\/strong> grounded into a double play, Walker to Perdomo with Jeimer Candelario out at second and Dominic Smith out at first on a 3\u20136 DP.<\/p>\n To start the bottom of the fourth, both Dominic Fletcher<\/a><\/strong> and Gabriel Moreno singled. A throwing error by Gray moved them to second and third. A walk to Perdomo brought up Josh Rojas, who hit a high chopper to short. Second base umpire Roberto Ortiz<\/a><\/strong> called Perdomo out at second as Fletcher scored.<\/p>\n However, after a review, Perdomo was safe. Marte, up next, hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Moreno. During Carroll\u2019s at-bat, Perdomo was caught trying to steal third when Rojas broke for second and realized Perdomo did not move. Perdomo tried to move and was chased down by catcher Ruiz, who threw to third baseman Jeimer Candelario, who threw to shortstop CJ Abrams<\/a><\/strong>, ending the inning. Diamondbacks 3, Nationals 1.<\/em><\/p>\nNationals Take Early Lead<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Diamondbacks Leave Runners On<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Bottom of the Third<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Exciting Fourth Inning<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Pitching Changes late in the Game<\/strong><\/h4>\n